Max’s forceful response to George Russell criticizing his behavior

Max Versappen remained challenging after his controversial confrontation with George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix of 2025, saying after his degree he did not regret the incident and that he did not see apologies or speak with Mercedes’ driver.

The point of view took place around 64 when Russell surpassed Verstapen and forced him to leave the court. Verstappen joined the escape road and Red BullAnticipating a penalty for an advantage, he commissioned him to return to the position. Although the administrators ruled that Russell was to blame for the initial movement, they said that Red Bull’s decision was based on his perception of the situation.

After granting the position, Max Versappen reacted frustrated by deliberately in contact with Russell’s car. The movement was worth a sentence of ten seconds that he left him fourth to the tenth, along with three penalty points on his license. It now has 11 penalty points within 12 months, leaving -a point away from an automatic prohibition on the race.

 

 

The incident caused strong criticism, especially since the 2016 world champion Nico rosbergwho believed that the actions of Versappen justified a black flag. He argued that, regardless of how the situation was developed, deliberately hitting another driver was unacceptable and set a poor example.

Russell also criticized the “maneuver”, acknowledging the Dutch driving skills, but shouting at the unnecessary and unhealthy collision. He said that this behavior sends the wrong message to younger fans. Max verstappen, however, remained firm in his position. He dismissed the idea of ​​discussing the matter with Russell, was next to his response during the race and made it clear that he did not regret his actions.

Asked why he thought of Russell’s opinion about his driving and the example he set up with the incident, Verstapen responded:

“Well, I will bring some tissues next time. He has his opinion, I have my vision. It is better to focus -me in the race, which I think was fine.”

“I am going to talk to George Russell about this? No, I don’t think it is necessary. I have nothing to say -in life, you don’t have to regret something too often. Just live once. So no, today I don’t regret,” said Max Versappen in the Dutch newspaper Of Telegraaf.

Max Verstappen blames George Russell’s incident about racing standards at F1

Max Verstappen attributed his confrontation with George Russell during the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix to the broadest issue of inconsistent racing standards in Formula 1 on what is allowed in wheels. The Dutch driver explained that while he did not lack the direct rhythm to challenge the McLarens, a series of stalls of well -timed pits had allowed him to close the gap to the leaders.

However, Versappen believed that his career was committed to the security car deployed after the fall of Kimi Antonelli. The calendar forced him to a set of hard tires for his fourth stop, the only compound he had left, at a disadvantage against the cooler and smoother rubber rivals.

In the restart, Max Verstapen lost third place Charles Leclerc After twisting in the straight grave. A few moments later, he fell in fourth place when George Russell executed a daring move that led Red Bull to instruct his driver to surrender the position, a call that he later appeared as the wrong one.

He expressed his frustration for being tightened on the straight and first turn, and pointed out the combination of incidents, disadvantaged by the tires and decisions of the team as key collaborators to his disappointing result.

Describing his race and drama deployed, said Max Verstapen (Via Planet F1):

“With hard tires, he had no grip. We had no soft tire left because we made this stop of three stops. Basically. Racing.”

“Then, with the hard tire, I had a great time in the last corner, because I could not keep up with these soft tires around me. Then, in the straight line, I drove already and then in turn 1 too. Then they told me to give the position. But honestly against you.

Max Versappen finally ended tenth in the Spanish Grand Prix of 2025 after receiving a sentence of ten seconds for his collision with George Russell. The incident was expensive in the battle of the championship, with the Dutchman who was now third with 137 points. Their gap in McLaren Lando Norris Has been expanded from 22 to 39 points, while the deficit to the Championship leader Oscar Plastri It has grown significantly, of 25 points before Barcelona at 49 points.

This is not the first time that Verstappen and Russell face. They were involved in an incident of the court similar to the Qatar Grand Prix of 2024, which triggered a war of words that increased to the end of the season in Abu Dhabi.

The result of Max Versappen in Spain was a major blow, especially considering that he could have finished the fourth or fifth place that Red Bull had not mistaken the situation or if he had avoided the resumption against Russell. A cleaner result could have been included between 10 and 12 valuable points and helped Red Bull keep the ground in the builders.

Instead, the old champions have fallen in fourth place in the building championship with only 144 points. McLaren continues to dominate with 362 points while Ferrari It has increased in second with 165 and Mercedes is in third place with 159.