Max survived the 51G impact due to the orientation of the forces involved, which were primarily horizontal.
Here's a breakdown:
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Horizontal vs. Vertical G-Forces: The critical factor is the direction of the G-force. Horizontal forces are less likely to cause blood to rush away from the head, as the blood vessels aren't oriented in that plane.
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Tolerance Thresholds: Human tolerance to G-forces varies greatly depending on the direction, duration, and individual factors. While vertical G-forces (e.g., during a rocket launch) can quickly lead to blackouts, humans can withstand much higher horizontal G-forces.
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Real-World Examples: The reference points to several examples:
- Romain Grosjean: Survived a 67G crash with bruising.
- Kenny Brack: Endured a 214G crash in IndyCar, also with injuries that weren't immediately fatal.
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Bruising: The primary physical effect mentioned is bruising. This indicates that while the forces were extreme, they didn't cause catastrophic internal damage or massive blood loss.
In essence, Max survived the 51G impact because the force's direction allowed his body to withstand the impact without causing immediate, life-threatening trauma, resulting in "only simple bruising."
