Reigning Formula One world champion Max Verstappen is now just a single penalty point away from a race ban after being penalised for a dramatic collision with Mercedes driver George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix on June 1.
Verstappen received a 10-second time penalty, which saw him tumble from fifth to 10th in the final classification. More significantly, race stewards handed the Red Bull driver three penalty points on his super licence, bringing his 12-month total to 11—just one shy of the 12-point threshold that triggers an automatic one-race suspension.
Two of those points are set to expire at the end of June, but with two races scheduled before then, the Dutch driver finds himself walking a disciplinary tightrope.
The incident occurred during the race restart following a late safety car period at Circuit de Catalunya. Verstappen and Russell made contact twice, first at Turn One where Verstappen—on hard tyres—defended his position from the faster, soft-tyred Mercedes. After being pushed wide but managing to stay ahead, he was instructed by Red Bull to relinquish the place.
Race stewards noted that Verstappen “was clearly unhappy with his team’s request.” As Russell moved past at Turn 5, Verstappen abruptly accelerated into the side of the Mercedes.
“After Car 63 got ahead of Car 1 at the entry of Turn 5, Car 1 suddenly accelerated and collided with Car 63,” read the stewards’ statement.
Road Rage or Racing?
The incident—and an earlier clash with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc—sparked widespread criticism and accusations of deliberate retaliation.
“It looked like a very intentional retaliation,” said 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg on Sky Sports. “If you wait for your opponent and bang into him, that’s a black flag.”
McLaren’s Lando Norris, who finished second, was stunned after reviewing the footage in the cool-down room: “I’ve done that before—in Mario Kart,” he joked.
“It felt deliberate,” Norris continued. “It’s something I’ve seen in sim racing, but never in Formula One. Max is one of the best in the world, but moves like that are unnecessary. It sets a bad example for young kids who look up to us.”
Norris also pointed out the risks involved: “It doesn’t make sense to hit someone intentionally. You could ruin your own car and throw away a podium chance.”
Verstappen, meanwhile, defended his actions after the race and brushed off Russell’s complaints with a dose of sarcasm.
“I’ll bring some tissues next time,” he said, referring to the Mercedes driver’s post-race frustrations.
While Verstappen remains a dominant force in the sport, the Spanish Grand Prix has revived concerns about his aggressive style and left him on the brink of an unprecedented race ban.
