Verstappen on the edge of race ban after Russell collision at F1 Spanish GP

Max Verstappen received three penalty points on top of a 10-second time penalty after a bizarre incident in the final laps of the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, where he appeared to deliberately collide into George Russell’s Mercedes.

The sanction left him classified 10th after finishing fifth on the road, and with a total of 11 penalty points for the current 12-month period. If that figure reaches 12, he is likely to face a race ban.

Verstappen was running third in Barcelona when the safety car was deployed so that Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s stranded Mercedes could be moved to a safe position. During the course neutralisation, Verstappen, along with the leading McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, were called into the pits for new tyres.

Verstappen queried the fact that he had been given hard-compound rubber and was told that was the only new set available. At the restart on lap 61, he had to quell a major oversteer twitch as he accelerated out of the final corner and was immediately overtaken by Charles Leclerc.

The Ferrari driver appeared to bang wheels with Verstappen on his way by. Russell then tried to slip through on the inside at Turn 1, but both cars ran out of room and Verstappen went wide, rejoining via the escape road as per the race director’s notes.

He was then radioed by race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase: “Max, can you let Russell through, please? Let Russell through.”

“No, I was ahead, mate,” replied Verstappen. “What the f***?”

“My advice is to let him through.”

“Mate, I was ahead. He just ran me off the road.”

“But that’s the rules. That’s the rules we have to play with. It’s a shame, but that’s the rules.”

Verstappen appeared to slow down and let the Mercedes by on the approach to Turn 5, then accelerated again before Russell was fully past, striking the Mercedes at the rear. Russell crossed the line ahead, in fourth, while the 10-second penalty left Verstappen classified 10th.

The irony was that in the eyes of the stewards he was at least partially correct in his assessment of the Turn 1-2 incident with Russell.

“The stewards reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video, timing, telemetry, and in-car video evidence,” said the stewards’ verdict.

“From the radio communications, it was clear that the driver of Car 1 was asked by his team to ‘give the position back’ to Car 63 for what they perceived to be an earlier breach by Car 1 for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage (in fact, we had later determined that we would take no further action in relation to that incident).

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images via Getty Images

“The driver of Car 1 was clearly unhappy with his team’s request to give the position back. At the approach to Turn 5, Car 1 significantly reduced its speed thereby appearing to allow Car 63 to overtake. However, after Car 63 got ahead of Car 1 at the entry of Turn 5, Car 1 suddenly accelerated and collided with Car 63.

“The collision was undoubtedly caused by the actions of Car 1. We therefore imposed a 10 second time penalty on Car 1.”

Verstappen will have to steer clear of incurring the wrath of officialdom for at least the next two rounds, but he is on thin ice until late in the year.

He gained his first two penalty points in the current rolling 12-month period after last year’s Austrian GP on 30 June, having collided with Norris at Turn 3. But even after those points ‘expire’ this year he will still be three points away from a race ban.

Verstappen will remain in that position until after 27 October, when the two points he received for pushing Norris off-track in Mexico will expire.