George Russell Slams Verstappen’s Conduct in Sp....

George Russell Slams Verstappen’s Conduct in Sp…. read more

Mercedes Formula 1 driver George Russell has openly criticized Red Bull’s Max Verstappen following a controversial incident during the Spanish Grand Prix. The collision, which occurred late in the race after a safety car restart, has sparked heated debate in the motorsport community, with Russell suggesting that Verstappen’s actions resembled behavior typically seen in simulator games rather than on an F1 track.

The incident unfolded after minor contact between the two drivers as the race resumed. Verstappen was subsequently instructed by Red Bull via team radio to return the position to Russell. However, moments later, Verstappen appeared to intentionally steer into the Mercedes car, reigniting concerns over his aggressive driving style. The surprising maneuver disrupted the otherwise uneventful race and led to a chaotic finish, with Verstappen falling to tenth and Russell securing fourth place.

Speaking to the media after the race, Russell expressed his shock at Verstappen’s behavior. “I was as surprised as you guys were,” he said. “I’ve seen moves like that in sim racing or karting, but never in Formula 1. It really felt deliberate in the moment, which made it all the more surprising.” Russell stopped short of accusing Verstappen outright, but his comments clearly conveyed disapproval and frustration over the incident.

Former world champion and Sky Sports pundit Nico Rosberg weighed in during the live broadcast, calling for a black flag to be issued to Verstappen, which would have resulted in immediate disqualification. Russell, however, declined to comment on whether such a penalty would be appropriate. “It’s not my place to say,” he stated. “We have our own issues to address. We’re focused on improving our car performance and understanding what we can do better moving forward.”

Russell did, however, underline the significance of the event and its broader implications. “Max is an incredibly talented driver and admired by so many people around the world,” he said. “It’s disappointing to see moments like this still happen, especially when they serve no real purpose and often hurt him more than anyone else. It just seems totally unnecessary.”

The stewards have yet to make a definitive ruling on whether Verstappen’s move was intentional, but the discussion around the incident is unlikely to fade soon. With tensions rising and driver standards under the microscope, the Spanish Grand Prix has added another layer of drama to what has so far been an intense Formula 1 season.