It was not right – Max Verstappen takes blame for crash with George Russell
Max Verstappen has issued a veiled apology for his wild crash with George Russell by admitting it 'was not right and should have not happened'.
The four-time world champion was hit with a 10-second penalty by the stewards for causing a collision with Russell with two laps remaining of Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.
Advertisement
Russell said he felt Verstappen's move was deliberate and accused the Red Bull driver of letting himself down. He also suggested that Verstappen should have been disqualified for the crash.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Max Verstappen (@maxverstappen1)
Verstappen refused to accept blame for the coming together after the race and even sarcastically offered Russell a tissue after he was informed of his British rival's criticism.
However, in a message posted on social media on Monday, Verstappen said: 'We had an exciting strategy and good race in Barcelona, till the safety car came out.
'Our tyre choice to the end and some moves after the safety car restart fuelled my frustration, leading to a move that was not right and shouldn't have happened.
Advertisement
'I always give everything out there for the team and emotions can run high. You win some together, you lose some together. See you (at the next race) in Montreal.'
Verstappen, who was on the slower hard tyre compound, lost third place to Charles Leclerc after he opened the door to the Ferrari driver when he made a mistake on the exit of the final corner in a six-lap shootout to the flag following the deployment of a safety car.
A dramatic restart! 😱
This was a heart-in-mouth moment between Verstappen and Leclerc 👀
#F1
#SpanishGP
pic.twitter.com/xO8Qz3USJa
— Formula 1 (@F1)
June 1, 2025
Russell then attempted to sling his Mercedes underneath Verstappen's Red Bull at the first corner before the Dutchman took to the escape road and remained ahead of the Briton.
'Max, can you let Russell through, please?' said Verstappen's race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase.
Advertisement
'What? I was ahead, mate. What the f***! He just ran me off the road.'
Verstappen slowed down at turn five to allow Russell past, but then accelerated and drove into his rival's Mercedes.
'What the f***'?' Russell said on the radio. Verstappen later moved out of Russell's way and crossed the line in fifth.
However, he was hit with a timed penalty by the stewards – demoting him to 10th – and also punished with three penalty points on his licence which leaves him just one point away from a race ban. He now trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 49 points in the standings.
Advertisement
Mercedes' George Russell said he felt Max Verstappen's move was 'deliberate' (Bradley Collyer/PA)
It marked another controversial chapter in Verstappen's career following run-ins last year with Lando Norris and multiple clashes with Lewis Hamilton in their title duel four years ago.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who has been linked with a move for Verstappen, said: 'I don't know exactly what the motivations were and I don't want to jump on it and say it was road rage, but it wasn't nice.
'The great ones, whether it's in motor racing or in other sports, you just need to have the world against you and perform at the highest possible level.
'That's why sometimes these greats don't recognise that actually the world is not against you, it's just you who has made a mistake or screwed up.'
Advertisement
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Lamine Yamal vs Cristiano Ronaldo to clash for first time ever live on free-to-air TV in Nations League final
CRISTIANO RONALDO is set to come face-to-face with the next generation of superstars for the first time. The Portuguese legend will take to the pitch to face Lamine Yamal 's Spain in the Uefa Nations League. 2 Portugal will play Spain in the tournament's final on Sunday evening. The match will take place at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany at 8pm. Ronaldo, 40, and co reached the final after beating Germany in the semi-final on Wednesday. The former Manchester United forward netted the winner despite Florian Wirtz giving Germany the lead. Yamal played his part as Spain edged out France in a nine-goal thriller in the other semi-final. The Barcelona star netted a brace to help his side win 5-4 at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart. Spain went 4-0 up on the night through goals from Nico Williams Pedri, Mikel Merino and Yamal before a Kylian Mbappe penalty. Yamal, 17, then bagged his second goal of the game to seemingly put Spain out of sight. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS However, Didier Deschamps ' team hit back to cut the deficit to just one after Rayan Cherki and Randal Kolo Muani scored either side of a Dani Vivian own-goal. The star-studded match will be shown on live TV and will be free for fans to watch. Germany vs Portugal Nations League clash DELAYED as players are forced to protect themselves from hailstones The clash will be televised on ITV as confirmed by host Mark Pougatch. He will be joined by former Lioness Karen Carney and Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague. Meanwhile, Yamal's performance against Les Blues has further staked his claim to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or. Arsenal fans watching the match were left concerned for the club's transfer window. This was due to Merino finding the target and supporters starting to think that Mikel Arteta will scrap his plans to sign a striker.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Luis Diaz makes major admission as Liverpool fight to keep Colombian star
Luis Diaz has revealed that his representatives are talking with other clubs. Liverpool rejected an approach from Barcelona for the Colombia winger and have insisted he is not for sale. And Diaz said he is happy at Anfield and does not want to leave – but is considering alternatives in case Liverpool do not give him the right offer for a new deal. The former Porto winger's contract expires in 2027, though he said he is content to stay at Anfield for the next two years. Diaz said: 'I'm very, very happy in Liverpool. From day one, they've made me feel really welcome. Right now we're in contact with them because we're speaking with [other] clubs. It's normal, the market is open, and we're trying to sort out what's best for us. 'I am just waiting to see what happens. If Liverpool doesn't make a good offer, I still have two years left with them, I would be happy and content to stay there. And that's it, everything depends on them obviously, it's up to me to decide what's best for us and the future.' Diaz scored 17 goals in all competitions last season, including 13 in the Premier League as he helped Liverpool regain the Premier League title. Barcelona sporting director Deco and manager Hansi Flick have both talked about their interest in Diaz as they look to add another forward to their squad.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Lamine Yamal dazzles as Spain edge France in nine-goal Nations League thriller
Spain 's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal inspired his country to a thrilling 5-4 win over France to send the holders through to their third successive Nations League final where they will face Iberian neighbours Portugal. The European champions dazzled in the first half of the semi-final at the MHP Arena and raced into a 2-0 lead with fine goals by Nico Williams and Mikel Merino inside 25 minutes. Spain's 17-year-old starlet Yamal then got in on the act to coolly add a third from the penalty spot nine minutes into the second half before his Barcelona teammate Pedri clipped a sublime fourth into the net less than a minute later. The goals continued to flow as France striker Kylian Mbappe also slotted home from the penalty spot near the hour mark before Yamal added Spain's fifth after 67 minutes to cap an exhilarating individual performance. France then mounted an extraordinary comeback as a stunning strike from Rayan Cherki, Dani Vivian's own goal and a Randal Kolo Muani finish caused Spain some late jitters but they held on to book a clash with their Portuguese rivals on Sunday. "I always say it to my mother, I try to give it all," Yamal told Teledeporte. "It is what motivates me to play football, why I wake up in the mornings. "France have world class players. The scoreline after 60 minutes was very big, but they have players who make you suffer. "We (Spain and Portugal) are two very good teams with world-class players. The best will win. I hope to bring the cup to Spain." Spain have been nearly imperious under coach Luis de la Fuente, losing just once in over two years, a run that helped them take home the European Championship title last year with victory over England in the final. Key to De la Fuente's system is his lively wide men Nico Williams and Yamal, and after Mbappe had wasted a golden early chance in Stuttgart and Theo Hernandez crashed an effort against the crossbar, Williams' emphatic finish edged Spain in front. Another fine, flowing move three minutes later resulted in Merino slotting home the second having been picked out by a pinpoint Mikel Oyarzabal pass. It was only the second time France had conceded twice inside the opening half hour of a match during coach Didier Deschamps ' 13-year tenure. France continued to create openings but could not make their moments count, with their profligacy proving costly as one of the favourites to win the Ballon d'Or award, Yamal, fired in from the penalty spot after the teenager had been fouled. Yamal, who already has over 100 appearances for Barcelona across all competitions before he has even turned 18, was equally calm for his second, after Pedro's fine fourth and Mbappe's penalty, poking the ball past France goalkeeper Mike Maignan. The strike from Olympique Lyonnais' Cherki deserved to be more meaningful, before Vivian's intervention gave Spanish supporters some cause for concern. Substitute Kolo Muani's goal made extra time look a possibility, but it was too little, too late. The striker, however, ensured the enthralling semi-final became the first-ever Nations League match to feature nine goals. It was also the first time France had conceded five times in a match since 1969. "We had some bursts of play we haven't had for a long time," France skipper Mbappe said. "But in just 10 minutes of the first half, we conceded two goals -- and the same thing happened in the second half. "We weren't consistent throughout the 90 minutes, but we did improve. When you don't win, there are always negative points that come out. But it's not all negative."
