While fighting for position mid-way through Sunday’s race at Imola, the two championship rivals came to blows at the exit of the first chicane, resulting in 𝔍both drivers retiring after becoming beached in the gravel.

Verstappen’s Red Bull car was launched into the air during the frightening collision and landing on top of Ham🅠ilton’s Mercedes, with replays showing that Verstappen’s right-r🌠ear wheel dragged over the roll hoop before striking Hamilton’s head.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said the cockpit protection device 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:“defꦏinitely” saved Hamilton’s life from what would have otherwise bee𓃲n a “🎶horrible accident”.

Ha𒈔milton admitted he felt “grateful” to have walked away from the incident unscathed.

“Th🦄ank God for the halo. It saved me,” Hamil🎉ton said.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been hit on the head by a car before. My head reaꦚlly♍ is quite far forward.

“I’ve been racing a long, long time, I’m so so grateful that I’m still here. Feel incredibly blesꦰsed, like somebody was watching over me today.”

The seven-time world champion revealed he had been suffering from a sore head and neck and will see a🎉 specialist before the next race in Rus🌳sia to confirm he has not been injured.

“I probably will see a specialist just to make sure I’m good for♎ the next race, because it’s getting tighter and tighter,” he said.

Hamilton said he found it “surprising” to seꦯe Verstappen walk away from the scene of the crash without checking on his condition.

“I saw Max get out and just walk by,” said Hamilton. “I felt that was a bit surprising. When we have incidents the first thing we want to make sur💫e is the guy w🌳e collided with is OK.

“But the good thing is 💯I was able to get out. It was a long walk back but we live to 🐭fight another day.”

V𒈔erstappen, who has received a three-place grid penalty for the R𒈔ussian Grand Prix, said it was clear Hamilton was unhurt due to the Briton attempting to reverse his car out of the gravel bed.

“Lewis was fine, he was still trying to reverse when I was already out of the car,” he added🐽. “When you are not fine, you are not doing t💯hat.”

Hamilton explained how in the immediat💮e rush of the adrenalin he was completely focused on trying꧟ to get himself back into the race.

“Looking back at the footage, it happened incredibly quick in the car and I was🦩 like ‘all I can think of is getting going and how many positions I’m losing’ – I’m still in race mode,” he said.

“I’m in a little bit of pꦏain but just like ‘let’s go’ but the car wouldn’t move. In the ♈moment it was a big hit but all I could think of was could I get going again.”