Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner has addressed the penalty imposed on Max Verstappen following his collision with George Russell during the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix. Verstappen received a 10-second time penalty and three super licence penalty points for the incident, bringing his total to 11 points—just one short of an automatic race ban.
Horner acknowledged Verstappen’s frustration during the race, particularly after a late safety car period disrupted his strategy. He noted that Verstappen was overtaken by Charles Leclerc and then by Russell, leading to the contentious clash. Horner stated that Red Bull instructed Verstappen to yield the position to Russell to avoid a more severe penalty, but the subsequent contact occurred during this exchange.
In response to former world champion Nico Rosberg’s call for Verstappen’s disqualification, Horner dismissed the suggestion as “sensationalist.” He emphasized that while the incident was unfortunate, the penalty issued was sufficient and that further punitive measures were unwarranted.
Despite the controversy, Red Bull has chosen not to contest the penalty. Horner expressed a desire for clearer guidelines from the FIA to ensure consistency in future decisions.
The incident has intensified discussions about Verstappen’s aggressive driving style and the FIA’s approach to enforcing racing conduct. While Red Bull has accepted the penalty, the team continues to advocate for clearer regulations to guide driver behavior on the track.
