Max Verstappen under fire again after late-race collision with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix. Source image: Motorsports
(The Post News)- Max Verstappen found himself at the center of another controversy on Sunday after stewards penalized him for colliding with George Russell in the final stages of a dramatic Spanish Grand Prix.
The incident unfolded with five laps remaining, moments after the safety car returned to the pits. Verstappen, who had just lost third place to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, went off track while defending his position from Russell’s Mercedes. Although Red Bull instructed Verstappen to surrender the position to Russell, he initially slowed down as if to comply, only to sharply veer into the Mercedes at Turn 5 with two laps to go.
The stewards responded by issuing a 10-second penalty, dropping the Dutchman to tenth at the checkered flag. Verstappen later expressed his dissatisfaction with how both Leclerc and Russell had overtaken him, accusing Leclerc of making contact and claiming Russell forced him off the track, prompting him to take the escape road in an attempt to hold on to fourth.
When asked directly about the contact with Russell, Verstappen neither confirmed nor denied that it was intentional, remarking that he would rather focus on discussing the race itself than a single moment. He also brushed off concerns about damaging his reputation, saying that such opinions were subjective and not worth addressing.
Nico Rosberg, the 2016 world champion, was blunt in his assessment during a post-race interview with Sky Sports, stating the move appeared calculated and retaliatory. He suggested that deliberately waiting for and then hitting an opponent typically warrants a black flag in the sport.
George Russell, meanwhile, likened the incident to something out of a video game. Speaking to reporters, he admitted he was shocked by Verstappen’s move and suggested it felt intentional. He added that Verstappen, despite his immense talent and following, continues to make unnecessary decisions that ultimately harm his own results.
Both Leclerc and Verstappen were summoned by stewards after the race to provide further details regarding their on-track clashes.
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