Formula 1 Drivers Bring Pain to Teams, Costing Them Hundreds of Millions of Rand

• Formula 1 continued to prove why it is the most expensive, if not the most expensive motorsport on the planet
• The 20 drivers in the competition cost their constructor teams hundreds of millions of rands on crashes throughout the season
• Mick Schumacher was the biggest culprit, with his accidents keeping the finance department and insurers well occupied throughout the season

The finance departments of the Formula 1 teams as well as insurance companies underwriting them had an uncomfortable year in 2021.

On the back of the tightest (and most controversial) finish in the history of the sport involving Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, fans have turned to their favourite subject to pass the time in the off-season. It is tradition to find out which driver proved the most expensive to their constructor team.

According to News24, the cost is attributed to crashes which occur during races, qualifiers, practices and racing circuit-related mishaps. In a list compiled by Sky Germany, this cost accrued was an eye-watering amount of €38.8m (R700m).

Legendary football player Samuel Eto'o accused of tax evasion in Spain

Football

The biggest culprit was Haas-Ferrari's Mick Schumacher, son of the legendary seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher. Haas-Ferrari had to stump up €4 212 500 (R76m) for repairs and new car replacements after his accidents.

Not far behind him was Frenchman Charles Leclerc. The Ferrari driver bled €4 046 000 (R73m) from the renowned Italian manufacturer's budget.

Interestingly, Red Bull's eventual world champion Verstappen's prangs amounted to €3 889 000 (R70m), third on the expensive list. Championship runner-up Hamilton put €1 235 000 (R22m) on Mercedes' bill, placing him in 13th place.

The team which suffered the most during the season was Haas-Ferrari (Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin), losing a total amount of €6 680 500 (R120m). Constructor's Championship winners Mercedes had to cough up €3 948 500 (R71m).

Sir Lewis Hamilton remains silent about controversial Abu Dhabi Formula 1 race

Speculation surrounding Lewis Hamilton's future continues to swirl as the seven-time world champion maintains his radio silence.

Boxing Icon Floyd Mayweather Shows Off His Incredible £14million Diamond and Gold Watch

Boxing

As reported on Sports Brief, Hamilton has avoided media attention and remained silent on social media since the controversial Abu Dhabi F1 race in which Max Verstappen was crowned the new F1 world champion.

Hamilton's last public appearance was in the middle of December 2021 when he was officially knighted at Windsor Castle, Formula1 confirmed.