Verstappen acknowledges the collision with Russell was preventable.
Formula One racer Max Verstappen, Red Bull's four-time champion, has faced criticism after his clash with rival driver George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix. Verstappen swerved into Russell's Mercedes on the final two laps, earning a 10-second penalty and three penalty points, putting him on the verge of a race ban.
Initially, Verstappen remained unapologetic, joking about bringing tissues for future incidents. However, he later admitted his mistake on social media, acknowledging that the move was "not right" and should not have happened.
Over the years, Verstappen has been embroiled in other notable altercations with drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris.
Following the incident in Spain, Russell described Verstappen's move as "totally unnecessary" and questioned his judgment. He added that it made no sense to deliberately crash into a rival and risk damaging one's own car and securing a penalty.
With the points earned by Russell, championship leaders Oscar Piastri clinched the victory in Barcelona, leaving Verstappen 49 points behind. The flashpoint occurred when Russell tried to overtake Verstappen, only for the Dutchman to leave the track and block his path. After being asked to let Russell pass, Verstappen steered into the Englishman's Mercedes, resulting in three penalty points, bringing his total to 11 - one shy of the number that would trigger an automatic one-race ban.
In the past, Verstappen has faced penalties for incidents, with the sanctions typically decided by the FIA stewards based on the severity of the infraction. The debate about aggressive driving styles and safe racing continues to stir discussions in the Formula One community.
In the wake of the controversial move during the Spanish Grand Prix, Max Verstappen's aggressive driving style in sports has once again come under scrutiny. After blocking George Russell's path and causing a collision, Verstappen will need to tread carefully in future sports events to avoid breaching the point threshold that could lead to a race ban.
