Max Verstappen admits blame as Red Bull star issues official

Max Verstappen has admitted responsibility for a controversial on-track clash with George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix, following a heated moment that drew significant criticism and disciplinary action from Formula 1 authorities.

The four-time world champion received a 10-second time penalty after appearing to deliberately collide with Russell’s Mercedes, an act seemingly sparked by frustration after being instructed by his Red Bull team to let Russell through for fourth position. This directive was reportedly given to help Verstappen avoid a possible penalty from race stewards due to an earlier incident.

However, Verstappen’s actions ended up costing him more than just a time loss. The FIA deemed the collision severe enough to issue him three penalty points on his super licence, in addition to the time penalty. These new points bring Verstappen’s total to 11 within the past 12 months—just one point short of the 12-point threshold that would trigger an automatic one-race ban.

With one of those points set to expire on June 30, Verstappen is now under intense scrutiny. He must navigate the next two race weekends without incurring any further infractions if he hopes to avoid a suspension. The narrow margin has placed the reigning champion in a precarious position, forcing him to adopt a much more cautious approach in upcoming races.

The incident has stirred debate across the F1 paddock and among fans. Former world champion Nico Rosberg was particularly critical, branding the 10-second penalty as too lenient and suggesting that Verstappen should have been shown the black flag—a measure that would have disqualified him from the race entirely.

Despite the controversy, Verstappen issued an official statement acknowledging his role in the incident and expressing regret. His admission, while commendable, may not be enough to cool the ongoing discussions about driver conduct and race stewarding standards in the sport.

Red Bull has yet to release an in-depth comment on the matter, but insiders suggest the team is privately frustrated by the situation, especially given Verstappen’s crucial role in their championship campaign. With the competition heating up and other teams closing in on Red Bull’s dominance, the Dutch driver’s potential suspension could significantly impact the title race.

As Verstappen looks ahead to the next two races.