George Russell has opened up about his recent on-track clash with Max Verstappen during the Spanish Grand Prix, admitting he was caught off guard by the Dutchman’s public acknowledgment of fault. The incident, which occurred during a tense post-Safety Car restart, added another dramatic chapter to the ongoing battle between Mercedes and Red Bull.
The contact happened at Turn 5 after Verstappen rejoined the track ahead of Russell, despite being instructed by his team to give the position back. After slowing slightly, Verstappen made contact with Russell as the two fought for track position through the left-hand corner. The result: a 10-second time penalty for Verstappen and three penalty points on his super licence—bringing him dangerously close to a one-race ban.
“I was a bit surprised to see he had taken responsibility, so fine,” Russell said when asked about Verstappen’s Instagram post the day after the race, where the Red Bull driver admitted the move was “not right.” The two drivers apparently ran into each other at the airport following the event, but Russell added there were “no issues” and that he had “actually forgotten” about the collision in that moment.
Verstappen, now sitting just one point shy of the 12-point limit that triggers a race suspension, must now navigate the Canadian and Austrian Grands Prix cleanly to avoid a ban. However, when questioned about the pressure of being on the brink, Verstappen remained unshaken.
“There’s nothing I can do about it,” he stated. “We just focus ahead and try to do the best we can every single time. It’s not changing my approach.”
Russell, for his part, emphasized that the rules are clear and should apply equally to every driver—champions included.
“If you take risky moves and they go wrong, there are consequences,” he said. “I’m not going to comment on whether he should or shouldn’t get a ban. It’s not my issue. I’m focused on my own race weekend.”
Despite the incident, Russell doesn’t believe Verstappen acted with ill intent, instead suggesting it was a case of aggressive racing rather than anything deliberate.
“I think Max was just trying to get his elbows out and assert himself,” he explained. “If it had taken me out of the race, maybe I’d feel differently. But in the end, I benefitted and he got the penalty. That’s just how it goes sometimes.”
As Formula 1 heads into the Canadian Grand Prix, all eyes will be on Verstappen—not just for his performance, but to see if he can avoid any further penalties that might sideline him. Meanwhile, Russell and Mercedes are looking to capitalize on every opportunity as the battle in the constructors’ standings heats up.
