The 2021 Formula 1 drivers’ championship witnessed a fierce rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, culminating in one of the sport’s most intense title fights. Max Verstappen ultimately claimed his first of now four world titles after the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Bradley Scanes, Verstappen’s performance coach, revealed the psychological tension and strategic mind games that unfolded during the closing stages of the season, offering a unique perspective on what happened behind the scenes.
The Pressure and Intensity Through the Final Races
Describing the season as
“probably the best experience I’ve ever had,”
Scanes spoke about witnessing two of the sport’s greatest drivers battling fiercely throughout the year. He highlighted how close the competition was, noting that Hamilton and Verstappen were often just a second apart, far ahead of the other drivers. The fluctuating momentum of the championship added to the emotional strain, with Scanes recalling moments when victory seemed within grasp, only for the tide to turn.
“We were struggling, and whatever happened happened in Abu Dhabi, but both drivers for sure deserved to win that title that year. Obviously, I’m biased and we deserved it more,”
he said with a smile.
“But it was a lot of pressure. It was intense. You could cut the tension with a knife in the paddock.”
Hostility and Distance Between Teams
As the championship neared its conclusion, the rivalry spilled beyond the track into the paddock atmosphere. Scanes recounted the scene at the Brazilian Grand Prix, three races before the season end, where the garages and team hospitality areas of Red Bull and Mercedes were adjacent, yet the two camps maintained strict distance. Interactions that formerly were commonplace became completely absent.
“The way the paddock’s laid out, you’re having to walk past each other, walk past each other’s hospitality as well. And no one would even look at each other – Red Bull, Mercedes. No one would look at each other, no one would talk to each other,”
Scanes explained.
“And nowadays, you’d stop and talk to your other half from Mercedes or guys you knew there, but in those last few races, it was a battle, it was war.”
Mind Games and Strategic Maneuvers on and off Track
The rivalry extended beyond physical racing into subtle psychological tactics. Scanes mentioned an incident in Brazil where Verstappen deliberately drove close behind Hamilton’s Mercedes rear wing, an act that earned a €50,000 fine but no on-track penalty. This move was a calculated effort to increase pressure on the Mercedes team without affecting race positioning.
“Brazil was a good example, where Max went behind the Mercedes rear wing and was giving it a good feel. That was measured. He knew he was going to get a 50k fine and no impact on track,”
Scanes said.
“Even if nothing happened, that would have shifted the focus, put a little bit of pressure in the media on them.”
This tactic also resulted in a technical change, as Mercedes had to restrict that particular rear wing for the final two races, slightly easing Red Bull’s challenge in Brazil.
The Psychological Battle Beyond the Race Track
Scanes described how the mind games went deeper into private moments between drivers and their teams. Exchanges in cool-down rooms after races and qualifying sessions often involved subtle challenges not visible to the public or media. Team principals Toto Wolff and Christian Horner frequently exchanged barbs publicly, but behind the scenes, even people like Verstappen’s physiotherapist Angela Cullen took part in playful psychological tactics.
One interesting aspect was how the drivers’ preparation times in the cool-down area became a form of game. Scanes reflected on the early days working with Verstappen, contrasting Lewis Hamilton’s meticulous and lengthy routine with Max’s more casual approach. Over time, Verstappen began to delay his own preparations.
“Whereas Max would either change his suit or just go as he is to the press conference. And then as it kind of progressed, we started changing every part of the kit. And as it progressed again, you could see Max just taking his time,”
Scanes recalled.
“But the flip was you can start to see Max really start to take his time, so then Lewis had to wait for him.”
Enduring Legacy of the 2021 Championship Duel
The 2021 Lewis Hamilton title fight stands out not only for its fierce competition on the track but also for the intense mental and strategic battles fought away from public view. The season’s dramatic conclusion in Abu Dhabi sealed Verstappen’s first championship, but the psychological warfare and pressure experienced by both drivers and their teams highlighted the complexity behind winning at the highest level of motorsport.
Bradley Scanes’s insights reinforce how much the mental dimension plays a role in Formula 1’s elite competition, shaping behavior in the paddock and affecting outcomes during race weekends.
