Red Bull Boss Petitions Penalty Verdict on Verstappen after

Red Bull Boss Petitions Penalty Verdict on Verstappen after Spanish GP Th….read more

Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner has officially lodged a petition against the penalty imposed on Max Verstappen following his controversial collision with George Russell at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix. The incident, which occurred late in the race at Turn 5, saw Verstappen make contact with Russell after initially giving up position as instructed by his team.

The stewards deemed Verstappen at fault and handed him a 10-second time penalty along with three penalty points on his super licence. This decision dropped the Dutch driver from fifth to tenth place, costing him vital championship points. Verstappen now sits just one penalty point away from an automatic race ban, intensifying the stakes for upcoming races.

Though Verstappen admitted fault post-race, describing the maneuver as a heat-of-the-moment mistake, Red Bull has taken a firm stance against the severity of the punishment. Horner has argued that the decision was inconsistent when compared to previous similar incidents, and that Verstappen’s penalty was overly harsh considering the circumstances and the minimal damage caused.

“This wasn’t a reckless or malicious move,” Horner said. “Max acknowledged he went too far, but the punishment doesn’t fit the incident. We’ve seen far worse collisions go largely unpunished. There has to be consistency in stewarding.”

The team believes the verdict sets a dangerous precedent and risks influencing drivers to be overly cautious in racing scenarios. Red Bull’s petition calls for either a full reversal of the penalty or a reduction in both the time penalty and the penalty points.

The incident has divided opinion across the paddock. Some, like former world champion Nico Rosberg, called the move “unacceptable” and suggested that Verstappen was lucky to avoid disqualification. Others, however, have expressed sympathy for Red Bull’s position, questioning whether the stewards are applying penalties uniformly across the grid.

With Verstappen trailing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by 49 points in the championship standings, the impact of this penalty could be significant in the long run. Red Bull’s appeal, if successful, could restore crucial points and momentum to their title campaign.

The FIA has confirmed receipt of Red Bull’s petition and is reviewing the case. A decision is expected ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix. The outcome could have a lasting impact not just on this season’s title battle, but on how aggressive race craft is judged going forward.