Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has rejected Nico Rosberg’s call to disqualify Max Verstappen from the Spanish Grand Prix, describing the suggestion as overly dramatic. Rosberg, serving as a pundit for Sky Sports F1, made the controversial statement after Verstappen received a 10-second penalty for a late-race collision with George Russell. While Verstappen originally crossed the finish line in fifth place, the penalty demoted him to tenth in the final results.
The clash between Verstappen and Russell stemmed from an intense on-track battle, with Verstappen running wide at Turn 1, claiming afterward that Russell had forced him off. Red Bull later instructed Verstappen to give the place back, which he appeared to do by easing off at Turn 5. However, he then made an aggressive move to retake the position, making contact with Russell in what many interpreted as a deliberate and chaotic maneuver.
Rosberg’s reaction was swift and harsh. During live coverage, the 2016 World Champion called for Verstappen to be black-flagged, claiming the Dutchman had intentionally collided with Russell to prove a point. He described the act as “horrible” and “seriously bad,” leaving viewers and commentators shocked by the intensity of both the incident and Rosberg’s response.
Horner, when questioned about Rosberg’s remarks, downplayed the criticism and subtly jabbed at the former driver’s dramatic broadcasting style. He declined to engage deeply with the comments, saying simply, “Nico’s quite sensational in the way he commentates, so we’ll leave it there.” His dismissal reflected Red Bull’s apparent unwillingness to validate the severity of Rosberg’s reaction.
Verstappen himself gave little weight to Rosberg’s opinion. When asked for his take, he responded in a measured tone, stating, “Yeah, that’s his opinion; everyone can have his opinion.” His focus, however, is likely now on avoiding further penalties, as his tally of FIA Super Licence points has reached 11 — just one point short of an automatic race ban.
With critical rounds in Austria and Canada ahead, Verstappen must avoid further infractions if he wishes to steer clear of a suspension. The growing scrutiny from pundits, rivals, and fans alike will keep the pressure high, but both he and Horner appear undeterred by the controversy surrounding the Spanish Grand Prix.
