Max Verstappen Penalized After Co… Read more
The 2025 Spanish Grand Prix ended in controversy as Max Verstappen was handed a late penalty following two on-track collisions with Mercedes driver George Russell. The reigning world champion was originally set to finish in fifth place but was demoted to tenth after race stewards reviewed the incidents and ruled against him.
The collisions occurred in the final stages of the race, particularly during a late safety car restart. Verstappen, who had been instructed to let Russell pass after gaining an unfair advantage earlier in the lap, slowed momentarily to yield the position. However, moments later, Verstappen appeared to misjudge his braking into Turn 5 and made contact with Russell’s car not once, but twice. The second collision was seen as a deliberate and dangerous move by many, prompting an immediate investigation.
After reviewing video footage and team radio messages, the stewards concluded that Verstappen was “wholly at fault” for the contact. As a result, he was issued a 10-second time penalty, which dropped him five places in the final classification. Additionally, he received three penalty points on his Super Licence, bringing his total to 11—just one point short of an automatic race ban.
The decision has sparked intense debate within the F1 community. Former world champion Nico Rosberg strongly condemned Verstappen’s actions, calling for his disqualification and describing the move as unsportsmanlike. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff also criticized the incident, labeling it as “completely avoidable” and “unacceptable behavior” for a driver of Verstappen’s experience.
George Russell, who managed to finish the race but with visible damage to his car, weighed in by suggesting that Verstappen’s aggressive style may stem from his frequent sim racing, where risk-taking is often less consequential. According to Russell, Verstappen’s on-track behavior mirrored that of someone who views racing more like a video game than a real-world competition.
This latest controversy places Verstappen in a precarious position. With 11 penalty points accrued over the past year and no points set to expire before the end of June, he is now just one incident away from receiving a one-race suspension. That looming threat could significantly impact the championship race, especially if Verstappen continues to drive on the edge.
As Formula 1 heads to Canada for the next round, all eyes will be on Verstappen—not just for his performance, but to see whether he can maintain composure and avoid the one-point misstep that could see him sidelined from a Grand Prix for the first time in his career.
