Max Verstappen is at risk of being banned from an upcoming Formula 1 race after officials held him responsible for a crash with George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday. The incident has ignited controversy, with Russell accusing Verstappen of intentionally causing the collision, which has intensified scrutiny over Verstappen’s on-track behavior.
George Russell Alleges Intentional Crash by Verstappen
Following the race, George Russell expressed his belief that Max Verstappen deliberately caused the crash. Speaking after the event, Russell commented,
“It felt very deliberate, to be honest,”
—George Russell, F1 Driver. He noted that while such aggressive moves are common in sim racing and iRacing, witnessing it in a live Formula 1 race was unprecedented for him.
Russell further criticized Verstappen’s actions, pointing out the negative message it sends to younger drivers aspiring to join F1. He said,
“It’s a bit of a shame because Max is clearly one of the best drivers in the world. But maneuvers like that are just totally unnecessary and sort of lets him down. It’s a shame for all the young kids looking up, aspiring to be Formula 1 drivers. So, as I said, I don’t know what he was thinking. In the end, I’m not going to lose sleep over it because I ultimately benefited from those antics.”
—George Russell, F1 Driver.
Consequences and Standings Impact After Collision
The stewards at the Spanish Grand Prix issued Verstappen a 10-second penalty and added three penalty points to his super license for his role in the crash. As a result, Verstappen finished the race in 10th place. Accumulating 12 penalty points within a year will trigger a mandatory one-race suspension, and Verstappen now sits precariously at 11 points. However, with two of those points set to expire in late June, he currently has limited leeway but must remain cautious over his next two races.
Max Verstappen, a four-time world champion, is currently third in the F1 driver rankings with 137 points. He trails behind Oscar Piastri, who leads with 186 points, and Lando Norris in second place with 176 points, increasing the pressure on Verstappen to avoid further penalties as the season progresses.