Max Verstappen Apologizes for Controversial Clash with George Russell at Spanish Grand Prix

Max Verstappen has issued a veiled apology for his collision with George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix, admitting the incident “was not right and should not have happened.” The dramatic clash, which occurred on the penultimate lap, saw Verstappen receive a 10-second penalty and three penalty points on his FIA Super Licence, bringing him to 11 points—one shy of an automatic one-race ban.

• Max Verstappen apologized after a controversial crash with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix, admitting it “should not have happened”
• The incident earned Verstappen a 10-second penalty and three penalty points—bringing him just one point away from a race ban
• The clash, which drew harsh criticism from Russell and others, dropped Verstappen from 5th to 10th and widened his gap behind leader Oscar Piastri

The trouble started after a safety car came out because Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes got stuck in the gravel. Verstappen, who was in third, had to pit for hard tires since that’s all he had left, while others like Russell and Charles Leclerc went for soft tires. After losing a spot to Leclerc and bumping Russell at Turn 1, Red Bull told Verstappen to let Russell take fourth place back because he’d gained an advantage by going off the track. Frustrated, Verstappen slowed down at Turn 5, seemed to let Russell pass, but then sped up and hit the side of Russell’s Mercedes, causing a big stir.

Russell was furious, calling it “on purpose” and “totally uncalled for,” saying it’s a bad example for young drivers. “You can’t just crash into someone like that,” he said, pointing out how dangerous it was at those speeds. Former champ Nico Rosberg agreed, calling it “completely unacceptable” and saying Verstappen should’ve been kicked out of the race. At first, Verstappen shrugged it off, jokingly saying he’d “bring tissues” for Russell, but later posted on social media that he was sorry, blaming his anger on a tough race and bad tire choices.

The penalty dropped Max Verstappen from fifth to tenth, putting him 49 points behind the leader, Oscar Piastri, who won for McLaren. Red Bull’s Christian Horner said Verstappen apologized to the team, explaining the safety car threw off their strategy. Mercedes’ Toto Wolff thinks Verstappen’s fierce drive, like in his 2021 fights with Lewis Hamilton, sometimes gets the better of him.

Also Read: Spanish Grand Prix 2025: Piastri Shines, Verstappen Faces Penalty Drama

With races in Canada and Austria before his penalty points reset on June 30, Verstappen needs to play it safe to avoid a ban. This crash shows how tricky it can be to balance bold moves with safety in Formula 1.