George Russell openly criticized Max Verstappen following a controversial incident during the closing laps of the Spanish Grand Prix, condemning what he called a “go-kart” style maneuver from the Red Bull driver. The clash occurred late in the race on Lap 61 of 66, shortly after a Safety Car regrouped the field, setting up a tense sprint to the finish where Verstappen was visibly struggling for grip on his tires.
During the critical moment, Verstappen’s rear tires spun dramatically in the final corner, nearly causing him to lose control. At this point, Charles Leclerc successfully overtook Verstappen for fourth place. Verstappen then sharply cut across the chicane in an apparent attempt to block Russell’s advance, resulting in contact between the two drivers. Russell ended the race in fourth position but did not hold back his frustration.
Russell Condemns Verstappen’s Racing Tactics as ‘Simulator-Style’
In a candid post-race interview with Sky Sports F1, Russell expressed his disbelief at Verstappen’s driving choices. He stated,
“I was as surprised as you guys were,”
followed by,
“I’ve seen those sorts of manoeuvres on simulator games and go-karting, but never in Formula 1. It felt deliberate in the moment, so it felt surprising.”
Although Russell stopped short of demanding a black flag penalty, he criticized the move’s lack of necessity and questioned its benefit to Verstappen’s racing.
“Max is such an amazing driver, and so many people look up to him. It’s just a shame something like that continues to occur. It seems totally unnecessary and never seems to benefit himself,”
Russell added.
Inconsistent Racing Decisions Shadow Verstappen’s Reputation
Russell also highlighted the inconsistency in Verstappen’s decision-making over recent races. Citing examples, he remarked,
“It’s like in Austin last year, some of the best moves ever, then you go to Mexico and he lets himself down a bit. You go to Imola with one of the best moves of all time, then this happens.”
Verstappen, penalized with a 10-second time addition that dropped him to tenth place, declined to elaborate on the contact with Russell. When questioned about the intention behind the clash, Verstappen responded tersely, “Does it matter?” Pressed further, he replied,
“Yeah, OK. That’s great. I prefer to speak about the race rather than one single moment.”
Impact of the Clash and What Lies Ahead for Verstappen
This latest episode adds to the mounting controversies surrounding Verstappen’s aggressive on-track behavior, raising questions about his racing style and sportsmanship. The incident underlines the fierce competition and rising tensions as drivers push limits in tightly contested races. How Verstappen and Russell will handle their rivalry moving forward remains a key talking point in Formula 1 circles.
