Max Verstappen has admitted fault for a controversial incident involving George Russell during the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver narrowly avoided a crash with the Mercedes after an emotionally charged sequence of events late in the race. Verstappen’s frustration grew after a strategic decision by his team to switch him to hard tyres under a safety car, which left him exposed at the restart. This vulnerability contributed to a tense battle with Charles Leclerc and eventually led to a questionable move against Russell.
The situation escalated when Verstappen lost traction exiting the final corner, allowing Leclerc to overtake. Moments later, Russell attempted an assertive overtake of his own, forcing Verstappen off track and down an escape route. Verstappen managed to retain position but was subsequently ordered to give it back or face a penalty. Rather than relinquish the spot directly, he decelerated suspiciously at Turn 5 before launching into a hard dive, which pushed Russell off his line.
Though Verstappen maintained his lead momentarily, he later gave up the position and still received a 10-second penalty and three penalty points on his FIA Super License for the maneuver. This demotion dropped him to 10th place in the final standings. Initially reluctant to speak on the incident, Verstappen has since acknowledged that the move was ill-judged, albeit triggered by race circumstances that tested his composure.
In a social media post, Verstappen admitted his behavior wasn’t justified and attributed it to a mix of race tension and strategy disappointment. He emphasized the emotional nature of high-stakes racing and stated that, while he always strives to do his best for the team, this particular incident crossed the line. He concluded his message by turning focus to the next race in Montreal.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner later confirmed that Verstappen apologized during the team debrief. Horner explained that the timing of the safety car put them in a tough strategic position, and while the team believed their tyre choice was best at the time, it ultimately backfired. Verstappen’s mistake cost Red Bull a valuable podium finish and significantly impacted their points haul.
Other figures in the Formula 1 community were critical of Verstappen’s actions. George Russell himself, former world champion Nico Rosberg, and Sky Sports analyst Anthony Davidson all suggested that Verstappen’s dive into Turn 5 was a calculated move. While Verstappen has not addressed those accusations directly, his acceptance of blame and apology to the team mark a rare public admission from the usually confident champion.
