The Spanish GP delivered both strategic intrigue and wheel-to-wheel incidents at the Barcelona circuit. It was George Russell and Max Verstappen who came to blows in most controversial fashion.
In the final laps of the race, the two drivers made contact – with Verstappen suffering on hard tyres.
After a series of exchanges and confrontations, their battles reached its climax in sector two.
Verstappen slowed down before intentionally hitting into Russell, which was met with a 10-second penalty by the stewards.
Speaking post-race, Russell gave his verdict on the incident.
Russell reacts to Max Verstappen contact
George Russell and Max Verstappen have found themselves involved in incidents previously.
It was after last year’s Qatar GP when the most infamous episode of their rivalry unfolded, with Russell describing the Dutchman as someone who “thinks he’s above the law.”
As if often the case, this tension – at least on the surface – subsided at the beginning of the season.
However, it has only taken a few months into 2025 for another clash between the two drivers.
On this occasion, Verstappen received an immediate sanction for his transgression against the Mercedes driver.
Whilst battling for 4th, the Red Bull driver intentionally his the #63 car – a move that ultimately saw him penalised and relegated into 10th.
Unsurprisingly, Russell’s live reaction in the cockpit was loud and clear.
Speaking to the media post-race in Barcelona, Russell delivered his verdict on the situation:
“I mean, my perspective was I just got crashed into.
“I don’t really know why, or what the thinking was behind it.
“In the end, glad that I continued with this damage. Ultimately it punished him more than me.”
Russell was then asked if he will talk to Verstappen about the incident:
“Look, that’s how Max goes racing. As I said, he was in P4, he was in P5. I ended up P4, he ended up 10th.
“From my side, glad that I managed to finish the race.
“Not really sure what he was thinking, because he cost the team and himself a lot of points.
“So no conversation [with Verstappen] required.”
The aftermath of the incident
Russell was not the only driver to clash with Verstappen at the Spanish GP.
As touched upon previously, the 4-time Champion was a sitting duck at the restart with hard tyres.
When the green flag returned, he almost lost his car out of the exit of the final corner.
This allowed Charles Leclerc to pull alongside Verstappen, before making contact on the main straight.
The Red Bull driver accused Leclerc of ramming into him on the straight, with their scuffle allowing Russell to enter the fight into Turn 1.
Both Verstappen and the Monegasque have been summoned to the stewards for the incident.
There can be no doubt this will be a busy evening for the stewards.
Returning to Russell’s incident, the British driver gave relatively restrained comments when probed on the issue.
Considering the intentional nature of Verstappen’s move, the Mercedes driver could have made far stronger declarations.
His decision to avoid this, if anything, demonstrates an unwillingness to enter another media saga with the reigning Champion.
Of course, Russell is likely more willing to move on from the collision because his race result was ultimately unaffected.
Had he been forced to retire, perhaps his response would have been stronger.
Main photo: LAT Images (Mercedes media gallery)
