Max Verstappen admitted to making an inappropriate move during the Spanish Grand Prix that
“was not right and shouldn’t have happened”
, but notably refrained from directly apologizing to George Russell or the Formula 1 community. The incident occurred during a late-race restart at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, sparking debate over the intentions behind Verstappen’s driving against Russell.
As Verstappen and Russell positioned third and fifth respectively, with Charles Leclerc between them, the battle for position intensified. After Leclerc challenged Verstappen, Russell attempted to follow through, but Verstappen took the Turn 1 escape road to maintain his lead. Following instructions from Red Bull to surrender the place to Russell due to track limits concerns, Verstappen slowed at Turn 5 but abruptly veered right, colliding with Russell’s Mercedes.
Race officials penalize Verstappen amid accusations of deliberate contact
The clash alarmed many, including Sky F1 commentator Nico Rosberg, who called for Verstappen to be black-flagged. Russell himself expressed feelings that the collision “felt deliberate.” The race stewards determined that Verstappen was responsible for the collision, imposing a 10-second penalty and adding three penalty points to his superlicence.
Despite the sanctions and public uproar, Verstappen’s initial post-race remarks were defiant, stating that opinions about the incident varied but later acknowledging his error without a direct apology. On the following Monday, Verstappen posted on social media, expressing frustration over the safety car restart and referring to his move as
“not right and shouldn’t have happened”
, yet still did not offer a clear apology to Russell.
Former Mercedes chief criticizes Verstappen’s lacking apology
Norbert Haug, ex-Mercedes F1 executive, conveyed his disappointment over Verstappen’s response during an interview with Sky Deutschland. He highlighted the absence of two crucial words, ‘Sorry, George,’ calling the omission significant despite Verstappen’s acknowledgment of fault.
Haug said,
“I was shocked. I couldn’t imagine that someone would be punished [on track] like that. At least he apologised, but I think we need to examine the entire chain of circumstances.”
—Norbert Haug, former Mercedes F1 chief
He added that the apology should extend beyond the team and fans, encompassing the stewards, emphasizing the need for accountability in such a high-profile incident.
“It’s a good start, but a good ending counts for everything,”
Haug remarked, urging Verstappen to clearly acknowledge his misconduct, recommending a statement such as, ‘I apologise for my misconduct to the FIA and all the fans watching.’
Haug also praised Verstappen’s standing, noting,
“He is a person who is admired, rightly admired, with absolute certainty the very best racing driver these days for a long time, and one must behave accordingly.”
—Norbert Haug, former Mercedes F1 chief
Consequences for Verstappen amid mounting pressure
The consequences of Verstappen’s actions extended beyond criticism. The collision cost valuable championship points for both Verstappen and Red Bull, with Verstappen securing just one point in the race, putting him 49 points behind current leader Oscar Piastri. The penalty points added to Verstappen’s racing licence now place him just one away from a potential race ban.
The stewards confirmed that Verstappen’s driving was the primary cause of the incident, bringing his total penalty points to 11, which will remain on his record until after the Canadian and Austrian Grands Prix at the end of June. This situation places increased scrutiny on his behavior in upcoming races, including the next event in Montreal.
The ongoing debate within Formula 1 circles over Verstappen’s conduct
The clash at Barcelona has extended friction not only between Verstappen and Russell but also among fans, pundits, and fellow drivers. While Verstappen has expressed frustration over the racing circumstances, his lack of a direct apology has intensified calls for greater accountability from the sport’s leading figure.
Russell’s camp and others continue to question the sportsmanship behind Verstappen’s move, fueling discussions on driver conduct and race stewarding decisions within Formula 1, underscoring the heightened tensions within the championship battle as the season progresses.
