Max Verstappen has admitted that frustration influenced his decision-making during the Spanish Grand Prix, leading to a controversial collision with George Russell. The Red Bull driver, who was running strongly until a safety car intervention, expressed regret for the incident and acknowledged that his actions were not appropriate. Verstappen received a 10-second penalty and three points on his license, dropping from fifth to tenth place and moving him just one point away from a potential race ban.
The incident unfolded late in the race after Red Bull fitted Verstappen with hard tyres during the safety car period, while most other drivers switched to softs. Following the restart, Verstappen was overtaken by Charles Leclerc and George Russell. He clashed with both, and despite his protests, Red Bull instructed him to let Russell back through to avoid a penalty for gaining an advantage off-track. However, just two laps before the finish, Verstappen made contact with Russell at Turn Five in what stewards ruled was a deliberate move after appearing to yield the position.
Following the race, Russell criticized Verstappen’s behaviour, suggesting he acted unprofessionally. Initially brushing off the comments with sarcasm, Verstappen later took to social media to clarify his position, admitting that frustration over strategy decisions and race developments had boiled over. Team principal Christian Horner conceded that emotions ran high but promised that the situation would be dealt with internally. Verstappen now faces pressure to avoid further infractions in the upcoming races in Canada and Austria, with the risk of a suspension looming.
ADD A COMMENT :