Although It Is Classified As Low Speed, The FIA Is Investigating Verstappen-Hamilton Collision Incident At Monza

Max Verstappen collision incident with Lewis Hamilton (Twitter @f1)

JAKARTA - The international automotive federation FIA will conduct an investigation into accidents involving the two main challengers for the F1 title; Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, at the Italian Grand Prix, Monza.

Race director Michael Masi said although the crash was classified as low speed, FIA safety experts would review it.

The collision incident caused Verstappen's Red Bull car to lift and land on Hamilton's Mercedes, even hitting the inside of his rear tire on Hamilton's head who was fortunate enough to be protected by a halo.

A closer look at the Turn 4 and 5 battle between @LewisHamilton and @Max33Verstappen 👀#ItalianGP 🇮🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/cZoJw7rKik

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 13, 2021

"Different incidents, it doesn't have to be high G power or anything like that, but what's unusual, we will definitely look into it", Masi said.

"Our safety department is definitely looking at that in detail, investigating and seeing what we can learn and what can be improved in the future. That's how we have a lot of safety features that we have today and will continue to improve in the future.

"We have collected all the data, so we have all the information and it will be used all by the safety department along with every photo and everything we have".

The stewards blamed leader Verstappen for the incident and rewarded him with a three-place starting penalty for the next race in Russia.

While Hamilton was quite shocked to find his head hit by a tire but thankfully the titanium device embedded in the cockpit of his car saved his life.

"I'm so, so grateful I'm still here. I feel blessed. I feel like someone saved me today", Hamilton said.

Anatomy of a collision 💥👀#ItalianGP 🇮🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/uAgBgzEY4k

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 12, 2021

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said hello had saved Hamilton's life and Red Bull team boss Christian Horner agreed that the device, which will be mandatory from 2018 despite opposition, had played its part.

"It was an awkward accident and you could see Max's car riding in that Mercedes and I don't think without the halo there would be no protection from the weight of the tires on Lewis", said Horner.

"I think hello once again shows its role in Formula 1".

FIA president Jean Todt posted on Twitter a photo of the Red Bull car that hit the Mercedes with the comment "So relieved there's a hello there".

A number of F1 drivers have also said the device saved their lives, including Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and former Haas driver Romain Grosjean.

"I didn't like the halo a few years ago but I think it's the greatest thing to bring to Formula 1", Grosjean said after the device shielded his head when his car broke through a guardrail and caught fire in Bahrain last year.