The 2021 Formula 1 season stands out as one of the most intense battles in the sport’s history, with Max Verstappen ultimately securing his first World Championship title by narrowly defeating Lewis Hamilton. The fierce competition between Red Bull and Mercedes not only played out on the track but also created palpable tension within the paddock throughout the final races, culminating in a highly disputed finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Verstappen’s former performance coach, Bradley Scanes, has now given insight into the extraordinary atmosphere that surrounded the title fight.
Max Verstappen and his team stayed largely silent immediately after his maiden championship victory in Abu Dhabi, while Lewis Hamilton, who was aiming to surpass Michael Schumacher’s record of seven titles, also refrained from public comments. However, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has made it clear that he remains unsettled by the decisions made during the controversial last race of the 2021 season.
The Heightened Paddock Rivalry Between Red Bull and Mercedes During the Title Fight
Bradley Scanes detailed how the layout of the paddock at race weekends contributed to unavoidable encounters between the Red Bull and Mercedes teams. Despite having to frequently pass each other’s garages and hospitality areas, members from both sides deliberately avoided any interaction or eye contact. This chilling cold shoulder exemplified the fierce rivalry that extended beyond the drivers to the entire teams, reflecting a level of animosity rarely seen in Formula 1 paddocks before.
The way the paddocks laid out a little bit, you have 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.
—Bradley Scanes said on the High Performance Podcast
Scanes emphasized that the tension was palpable and could almost be physically felt, describing it as “war-like.” Unlike more recent seasons where drivers and team members may stop and chat regardless of team allegiance, in 2021 even longstanding relationships between personnel from the rival teams were put aside. The competition created a hostile environment that none present could ignore.
You could cut the tension with a knife. And like 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.
—Bradley Scanes added
Scanes Reflects on Verstappen’s Deserved Triumph in an Unforgettable Season
The conclusion of the 2021 season left many fans and analysts divided, especially because race control made an unprecedented decision during the Abu Dhabi GP that dramatically altered the championship outcome. Lewis Hamilton suggested he was denied a fair chance at winning the title, expressing his dissatisfaction with how the situation unfolded. However, Scanes asserted that both Hamilton and Verstappen pushed each other relentlessly throughout the season and deserved credit for their performances.
As Verstappen’s ex-coach working closely with the Red Bull team, Scanes openly stated his belief that Verstappen was the rightful champion. While acknowledging the controversy, he declined to dwell on the past, focusing instead on the quality and intensity both drivers exhibited during their 2021 campaigns.
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.
—Bradley Scanes noted
Since winning his first championship, Verstappen has demonstrated consistent dominance by securing three additional titles, solidifying his status as one of Formula 1’s leading drivers. Conversely, Hamilton has faced fewer victories and recent challenges in maintaining peak performance. Nevertheless, the rivalry that defined the 2021 season continues to be recognized as one of the fiercest and most memorable in the sport’s history.
The 2025 season has tested both competitors in new ways, but the intense battles they shared, especially during Verstappen’s 2021 title chase, will remain a defining chapter in Formula 1 lore, symbolizing both sporting excellence and the rivalries that drive elite competition forward.