FIA Hands Max Verstappen 10-Second Penalty at Spanish

FIA Hands Max Verstappen 10-Second Penalty at Spanish Grand Prix, Drops to P10 After Russell Clashes

In a dramatic twist at the Spanish Grand Prix, the FIA has handed Max Verstappen a 10-second time penalty after a pair of controversial collisions with George Russell. The ruling saw Verstappen demoted to 10th place, drastically altering the race results and shaking up the ongoing F1 championship standings.

The incidents unfolded in the final stages of the race, following a late safety car that bunched up the field. Verstappen and Russell tangled not once, but twice over the course of just a few laps. The aggressive duels led stewards to intervene post-race, concluding that Verstappen was predominantly at fault and issuing a 10-second penalty that significantly impacted his final classification.

The penalty not only dropped the Red Bull driver from a podium position to the final points-paying place but also resulted in a flurry of changes throughout the standings. Benefiting significantly from Verstappen’s demotion was Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg, who was bumped up to an impressive fifth-place finish. The result netted Hulkenberg a valuable 10 points — a massive result for the team and driver alike.

At the front of the grid, it was Oscar Piastri who seized the victory, cementing his growing status as a legitimate title contender. His McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, crossed the line in second, further compounding Verstappen’s disappointing day. With this outcome, Piastri now holds a commanding 49-point lead over Verstappen in the drivers’ standings, delivering a major blow to the reigning champion’s pursuit of a fifth consecutive world title.

The decision has sparked debate across the paddock and among pundits. Former world champion Nico Rosberg weighed in on the Sky Sports F1 broadcast, voicing his belief that the FIA had been too lenient in its ruling.

“That’s a very lenient one from my point of view,” Rosberg said, referencing the 10-second penalty. “Remember Sebastian Vettel against Lewis Hamilton in Baku 2017 — that was similar and got a harsher response. Verstappen should have known better.”

The fallout from the clash and penalty has cast a shadow over Verstappen’s title hopes. While he remains mathematically in the hunt, the growing gap to Piastri — combined with strong performances from rivals like Norris — has shifted the momentum away from Red Bull for the time being.

As the F1 season rolls on, the Spanish Grand Prix may be remembered as a turning point in the 2025 championship — a race where a controversial pair of collisions and a consequential penalty sent shockwaves through the standings and dealt a major blow to one of the sport’s biggest stars.