MIKA HAKKINEN reckons Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton took “very heavy risks” during their recent title war.
The F1 legend claimed Dutchman Verstappen and British star Hamilton relied too much on the safety of their cars and the track.
The two F1 superstars collided on multiple occasions during the 2021 season that saw Verstappen barely beating the Mercedes driver to the title following a dramatic and controversial final race in Abu Dhabi.
The Red Bull champion was taken to hospital for concussion after his high-speed crash with Hamilton at Silverstone in July.
The rivals also ran off the road together at Interlagos, while the Brit star had to take evasive action at the start at Imola.
Hakkinen knows how bad it gets when a race goes wrong as he spent two months in hospital after a horrible crash in Adelaide in 1995.
The Finn added that Verstappen and Hamilton took risks he wouldn’t have tried himself.
The two-time world champion also argues that they have yet to find out the full pain they could experience.
Hakkinen said ahead of the World Sports Awards: “Is it my style to do things that those two drivers did?
“Not really, it is not my style and that is because I had a very bad accident.
“I spent a lot of time in hospital and I know the pain when things go wrong.
“These two drivers, they don’t know that, so they do take risks, very heavy risks, and they rely a lot on the safety of the car and the safety of the track.”
