Verstappen’s Spanish GP Penalty Sparks Backlash: Red Bull Race Engineer Under Fire

Max Verstappen’s hopes for a championship rebound took a major hit at the Spanish Grand Prix—both on and off the track. What began as a tight duel with George Russell ended with a damaging 10-second time penalty and mounting criticism, with many pointing fingers at Red Bull’s own race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, for the costly call.

Drama at Turn One

The trouble began early in the race when George Russell dove aggressively down the inside of Verstappen at Turn 1, pushing the Red Bull driver off track and onto the escape road. Although Verstappen rejoined ahead of Russell, his lead was short-lived. Lambiase quickly came over the radio instructing Verstappen to give the place back—an order that sparked frustration and confusion in the Red Bull cockpit.

Already dealing with the challenges of being on hard tyres, Verstappen’s irritation grew. When it came time to return the position to Russell, the Dutch driver clipped the side of the Mercedes car in a move that was interpreted as reckless. The incident led to a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points on Verstappen’s license, compounding an already difficult race weekend.

Doornbos: Red Bull “Too Quick to Judge”

Former Formula One driver Robert Doornbos weighed in on the incident during an appearance on Ziggo Sport’s Race Cafe, and he did not hold back. He blamed Lambiase’s rapid decision-making for escalating the situation and accused Red Bull of mishandling a moment that required better judgment.

“You make that call together,” Doornbos said. “Gianpiero Lambiase is normally very sharp and clear on the radio, but this time he was too quick to decide that Max had to give the position back to Russell.”

Doornbos suggested that the call added unnecessary pressure on Verstappen, and that more trust should have been placed in the driver to assess the situation.

“That happens more often this year,” he added. “Leave that choice to the driver instead of imposing it.”

The former racer also stressed that the miscommunication played a key role in Verstappen’s emotional reaction on track.

“As a team you failed, absolutely. But as a driver, you also let the team down with such actions,” he said.

Frustration Boils Over at Red Bull

This weekend was meant to mark a comeback for Red Bull, especially following the FIA’s new technical directive that some hoped would give them a better chance against McLaren. But tyre issues persisted, and the team was forced into a three-stop strategy—ultimately ineffective against the blistering pace of McLaren.

Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris delivered a dominant one-two finish for McLaren, while Verstappen—after his penalty—could manage only 10th place, taking home a single point.

Championship Slips Further Away

The aftermath has been brutal for Verstappen’s title hopes. With his rivals pulling away, he now trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 49 points. The tension inside the Red Bull camp is beginning to show, with communication breakdowns and strategic uncertainty costing them both pace and points.

For Verstappen and Red Bull, the Spanish GP was more than just a poor result—it was a sign that bigger issues may be brewing within the team.

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