Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has shared that Max Verstappen privately apologized following his controversial clash with George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix. The incident occurred late in the race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, when Verstappen appeared to intentionally block Russell’s attempt to pass, resulting in a collision. The tension on the track was heightened after Charles Leclerc overtook Verstappen, pushing him down to fourth place following a pit stop under the safety car.
During Russell’s move to regain position at Turn 1, Verstappen seemed to momentarily give way, only to swing back into Russell’s path. His actions drew significant criticism from fans and pundits alike, who viewed it as unnecessarily aggressive. As a result, Verstappen was handed a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points, which dropped him down to 10th place—far from his expected podium finish. The consequences affected both his personal championship standing and Red Bull’s overall points tally.
Although Verstappen did not issue a formal public apology immediately after the race, he did acknowledge on social media that the maneuver “should not have happened.” Horner later revealed in a race review post that Verstappen did, in fact, apologize during the team’s debrief session. The team expressed frustration over losing valuable points, particularly after opting for an aggressive three-stop strategy that had been working in their favor until the safety car disrupted plans.
Horner explained that the safety car came out at an unfortunate time, leaving the team with difficult choices between sticking with worn tires or taking a gamble on new hard tires. While hindsight suggests other decisions might have led to better results, Horner defended the team’s choices, saying they acted on the best available data. Without the late interruption, Verstappen was on track for a comfortable podium finish and strong championship points.
The incident also negatively impacted Yuki Tsunoda’s race, as the safety car disrupted his momentum and potential to finish in the points. Despite the frustrations, Horner emphasized that such unpredictability is part of what makes Formula 1 so captivating. One moment can change everything on the track, which is both the thrill and the heartbreak of racing.
Looking ahead, Horner stated that the Red Bull team would focus on improving their car setup in the coming weeks to rebound at the Montreal Grand Prix. He acknowledged the difficult weekend but maintained a positive outlook, confident that the team would come back stronger. Verstappen’s apology, while not public at first, demonstrated accountability, and the team is determined to learn from the experience and move forward.
