Verstappen Opts For Pain Killers After Last Sunday Race At Imola

Monday, 20 May 2024 at 22:00

Speaking to the media after the 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Max Verstappen revealed he would need painkillers and a massage.

Though Max Verstappen might not have looked exhausted as he got out of the car after the race, the triple-world champion certainly looked exhausted during the press conference that followed.

When asked by a member of the media how he was feeling, the 26-year-old revealed that the latest race was very tough on his body, especially his back.

"I'm just broken from the bumps, to be honest. My back, everything is hurting. It's not so much from the physical side of things, but just it was so bumpy out there."

Why would a driver's back hurt when he is "only" driving a car? F1 cars, of course, don't have the same kind of suspension as regular road cars.

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F1 cars' floors are much closer to the ground, and their suspensions are much stiffer. Drivers basically sit centimeters above the ground while driving and can feel every single vibration inside the car.

Driving 63 laps around Imola Circuit- one of the most bumpy circuits in the whole F1 calendar then takes its toll on all the drivers' backs.

One section of the circuit is especially tough: the combination of turns 14 and 15, also called Variante Alta. Together, turns 14 and 15 create a small but sharp S-turn.

To get through this section as quickly as possible, drivers have to take a lot of huge curb in 14, and it wasn't unusual to see drivers with all four wheels in the air at this part of the track last weekend. Verstappen added:

"Already after like 20 laps, I could really feel my back. So I'm just looking forward to laying in bed. Maybe take some painkillers. And a massage, I don't know."

Despite all the pain, the 26-year-old probably thoroughly enjoyed the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix weekend, as he overcame multiple obstacles to bring home another pole position and a race win. In fact, he called it his best race of the season so far.