Stunning Max Verstappen Defence Launched After C…read more
The fallout from the Spanish Grand Prix has sparked intense debate, particularly around the incident involving Max Verstappen and George Russell. As the dust settles, Formula 1 insider and former team manager Peter Windsor has come out in staunch defence of the Dutch driver, criticising Red Bull’s strategic missteps and the FIA’s penalisation of Verstappen.
During the chaotic Spanish GP, a safety car period prompted several strategic gambles up and down the grid. Red Bull’s decision to fit Verstappen’s car with hard tyres during the restart proved to be disastrous. Drivers had complained all weekend about the lack of grip and poor balance of the C1 compound, and Verstappen was no exception. He found himself struggling to keep up with rivals on the superior soft tyres, making him especially vulnerable during the restart.
Peter Windsor, speaking on his YouTube channel, laid the blame squarely at Red Bull’s door. “Red Bull made a huge mistake in strategy,” he said. “I’m absolutely stunned by their decision. Why didn’t they leave him out on the used softs? Yes, Oscar Piastri probably would have caught him, but the DRS wouldn’t have come into play until the final few laps. At worst, Max would have finished third. He certainly wouldn’t have fallen behind Charles Leclerc and George Russell.” According to Windsor, the team’s lack of faith in Verstappen’s tyre management skills and their conservative approach led to an avoidable strategic blunder.
The consequences of this error unfolded dramatically on track. As Verstappen fought to defend his position on the compromised hard tyres, he was overtaken by George Russell, who dove aggressively down the inside into Turn 1. The two cars made contact, forcing Verstappen off track and onto the escape road. Upon rejoining, Verstappen briefly stayed ahead of Russell.
Controversially, Red Bull instructed Verstappen to give the position back to Russell, despite no immediate directive from the FIA. Windsor was critical of this call as well: “There was a lot of discussion at the pit wall at Red Bull and it wasn’t good. They told Max to give the place back when there was no obligation to do so. The FIA later confirmed they wouldn’t take any further action, so why make that decision?” he asked, suggesting the team misread the situation entirely.
But Verstappen’s own actions then added to the controversy. In what appeared to be a retaliatory move, he seemed to edge his Red Bull into the side of Russell’s Mercedes shortly after yielding the position. This prompted stewards to take action, handing Verstappen a 10-second time penalty, along with three penalty points on his super licence. That pushed him perilously close to the 12-point threshold, which would trigger an automatic race ban. Should Verstappen collect just one more penalty point in either Canada or Austria, he will be forced to sit out the following Grand Prix.
The penalty also had major implications for Verstappen’s championship hopes. He was ultimately classified 10th, collecting a single point, while his rivals — including McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris — capitalised on Red Bull’s blunder. The result sees Verstappen fall further behind in the championship standings, raising concerns within Red Bull about the mounting pressure and recent mistakes.
The Spanish GP thus marks a turning point in this year’s title race. With Red Bull’s once-invincible aura showing cracks, both strategically and in driver composure, questions are now being asked about their decision-making processes and Verstappen’s temperament under pressure. As the F1 circus heads to Canada, all eyes will be on how the team and their champion driver respond.
