F1 Stewards Side with Max Verstappen After R…read more
The 2025 Spanish Grand Prix ended in drama and controversy, particularly for Max Verstappen, whose combative afternoon saw him collide with George Russell twice and drop to 10th place following a post-race penalty. The incident has raised questions not just about driving conduct but also about communication breakdowns within the Red Bull camp. Despite the penalty, race stewards have now confirmed that Verstappen was not required to give a position back to Russell after their first incident—a decision that directly contradicted Red Bull’s in-race instructions to their driver.
The controversial series of events began shortly after the safety car restart. Verstappen and Russell came together at Turn 1, with the Dutchman leaving the track and rejoining ahead of the Mercedes. Sensing a potential penalty, Red Bull instructed Verstappen to yield the position back to Russell. This call, however, did not sit well with Verstappen, who vocally expressed his frustration over team radio. Later in the race, the tension between the two drivers escalated into a second incident, in which Verstappen collided with Russell again—this time appearing to do so with clear intent.
Verstappen was eventually penalized for this late-race collision, costing him what would have been a fifth-place finish and dropping him to 10th overall. In a defiant post-race interview, Verstappen downplayed the severity of the incident, stating that it “doesn’t matter” whether the collision was intentional or not. His response added more fuel to the fire, casting doubt on the discipline of the reigning world champion and highlighting the emotional toll the season is taking on him.
However, a surprising twist emerged hours after the race. The race stewards released an official statement siding with Verstappen on the earlier Turn 1 incident. According to their assessment, Verstappen had rightful control of the corner and did not need to relinquish the position to Russell. The stewards confirmed that they had reviewed the incident thoroughly and decided that no lasting advantage was gained, thus no penalty was warranted. “From the radio communications, it was clear that the driver of car 1 was asked by his team to ‘give the position back’ to car 63 for what they perceived to be an earlier breach by car 1 for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage. In fact, we had later determined that we would take no further action in relation to that incident,” read the stewards’ statement.
This decision could create a ripple effect within Red Bull, where internal communication and strategic calls may now come under scrutiny. Verstappen, known for his fierce independence and on-track aggression, may point fingers at his team for advising a move that ultimately had no regulatory basis. The situation also illustrates the fine line teams walk when trying to preemptively avoid penalties by instructing drivers to give up positions, sometimes prematurely.
The penalty not only cost Verstappen vital points but also dealt a significant blow to his championship campaign. He now trails Oscar Piastri by 49 points in the standings. Piastri continued his remarkable season by claiming his fifth victory, further establishing himself as the driver to beat in 2025.
To make matters worse, Verstappen was handed three penalty points on his FIA superlicence for the incident, bringing his total to 11 within a 12-month period. Just one more point will result in an automatic one-race ban, a precarious position for the four-time world champion to be in.
While Russell’s race result remained unaffected and another late-race incident involving Charles Leclerc and Verstappen was cleared without action, the focus is firmly on Verstappen. As the championship heats up, the pressure is mounting—not just from rival drivers, but from within his own garage.
