Move ‘was not right’, says ‘frustrated’ Verstappen

Max Verstappen claims that the collision between him and George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix was “frustrational” and “shouldn’t have happened.”

Russell claimed that Russell “let himself down” by posing purposefully into the British driver’s Mercedes in Barcelona.

The incident, which dropped the Dutchman from fifth to tenth in the final result, resulted in the Red Bull driver receiving a 10-second penalty for the incident, which had previously resulted in him winning four championships.

Verstappen said on Sunday that the collision was “a misjudgement” and that he would “bring some tissues next time.”

However, the 27-year-old said on social media that “we had a good race in Barcelona until the safety car came out.”

My frustration was fueled by our safety car restart’s decision to use a tire that wasn’t appropriate.

“I always put my best foot forward for the team,” he says. You both win and lose simultaneously.

Verstappen’s penalty resulted in him 49 points adrift of McLaren’s championship leader Oscar Piastri, who defeated teammate Lando Norris to win the race on Sunday.

Verstappen had hoped to finish in third place in Barcelona when the safety car arrived late in the race.

All the leaders and the majority of the field pitted for new soft tires, but Red Bull chose to use Verstappen’s.

Verstappen was forced to leave on softs after eight racing laps, but he questioned the decision upon returning to the track, and team principal Christian Horner acknowledged that in retrospect, the best course of action would have been to do so.

Verstappen nearly lost control at the corner’s exit shortly after the restart. He was immediately followed by Charles Leclerc on the straight, where the two vehicles barely reacted as their trajectories converged, and then Russell into the corner where they slammed their front wheels.

Verstappen alleged that Russell had allegedly barged him off the track, and Verstappen expressed anger over the Leclerc incident. However, Red Bull decided to ask him to let Russell pass so that he could avoid paying a penalty after stewards opened an investigation into his leaving the track and gaining an advantage.

Verstappen opposed it, but race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase informed him that it was “the rules.”

Moments later, at Turn Five on lap 64 of 66, Verstappen and Verstappen collided, but the two men were arguing that Verstappen had significantly decreased his speed and appeared to be allowing [Russell] to overtake, but Verstappen “suddenly accelerated and collided with]Russell]”.

Verstappen was “apparently upset and enraged” and “frustrated,” according to Horner, who said they would have an internal discussion.

Verstappen will have to keep his nose clean over the next two races in Canada and Austria due to the three penalty points he received.