The long-awaited duel took place, and we enjoyed ourselves for almost a lap.
After Verstappen's huge start yesterday in the first sprint race in F1 history, putting the Dutchman on pole this Sunday to the detriment of Lewis Hamilton, the Briton almost returned the favor to his opponent.
But Max held onto the first corner, even slipping out of the curbs, and the two fought an intense battle on the first lap of the circuit.
In one of the last corners of the circuit, after a long straight, Hamilton throws himself inside while Verstappen is in front.
The RedBull driver's right rear tire hit the Mercedes' front-left, and the Dutchman's car spun at full speed, one tire blown off, before ending its race in a wall of tires.
Verstappen finally got out of the car conscious, supported by the assisting doctor, and went for medical exams.
Yesterday, Formula 1 commemorated the sixth anniversary of the death of Jules Bianchi, victim of a severe head trauma after crashing into a lifting machine on the Suzuka circuit.
The race was interrupted for more than 40 minutes and Lewis Hamilton was fined 10 seconds, to be taken during his pit stop.
Christian Horner, director of RedBull, reckons that "all riders know you don't get inside on this corner", saying Verstappen couldn't see Hamilton.
Sport
Austrian GP: Max Verstappen wins on Red Bull land and signs his third consecutive victory of the season
Sport
Euro 2021: F1 driver Lando Norris assaulted and stripped of his beloved watch after Wembley final
Lewis hamilton
Jules Bianchi
Mercedes
F1
Red Bull
Sport