Max Verstappen is one penalty point away from an F1 race ban after his dramatic collision with George Russell in the closing stages of the Spanish Grand Prix.
Verstappen, who had just lost third place to Charles Leclerc after a safety car restart, was told by his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase to give fourth place to arch-rival Russell, after the pair briefly touched at turn 1.
The Red Bull driver initially moved over to allow Russell through before swerving aggressively into the Mercedes car. Verstappen was given a 10-second time penalty by the stewards straight after race, dropping him from fifth to 10th, though Nico Rosberg believes the Dutchman should have been disqualified.
Yet one hour after the race concluded, Verstappen was given a further three penalty points on his FIA superlicence for the collision, bringing his total to 11 points. A race ban is triggered if a driver accrues 12 points over a 12-month period
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F1 SPANISH GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES
- Oscar Piastri wins the Spanish GP; Norris 2nd; Leclerc 3rd
- Max Verstappen gets a post-race penalty after a dramatic collision with George Russell
- Verstappen is now one penalty point away from a race ban ahead of the next grand prix in Canada
- OVERTAKE! Verstappen takes P2 from Norris at the start (Lap 1/66)
- READ: Bukayo Saka snubs Sky F1 and Nico Rosberg at Spanish GP: ‘That was not very friendly’
FULL STORY: Max Verstappen on the verge of F1 race ban after George Russell collision
18:59Max Verstappen is one penalty point away from an F1 race ban after his dramatic collision with George Russell in the closing stages of the Spanish Grand Prix.
Verstappen, who had just lost third place to Charles Leclerc after a safety car restart, was told by his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase to give fourth place to arch-rival Russell, after the pair briefly touched at turn 1.
The Red Bull driver initially moved over to allow Russell through before swerving aggressively into the Mercedes car. Verstappen was given a 10-second time penalty by the stewards straight after race, dropping him from fifth to 10th, though Nico Rosberg believes the Dutchman should have been disqualified.
Yet one hour after the race concluded, Verstappen was given a further three penalty points on his FIA superlicence for the collision, bringing his total to 11 points. A race ban is triggered if a driver accrues 12 points over a 12-month period.
Max Verstappen on the verge of F1 race ban after George Russell collision
NEW: Leclerc-Verstappen escape punishment
18:11 , Kieran JacksonThe stewards have decided that neither driver were to blame.
A sigh of relief from both Verstappen and Leclerc.
Max Verstappen on the verge of F1 race ban after George Russell collision
17:52 , Kieran JacksonVerstappen was given a further three penalty points on his FIA superlicence for the collision, bringing his total to 11 points. A race ban is triggered if a driver accrues 12 points over a 12-month period, as seen with Haas’ Kevin Magnussen last year.
It means Verstappen must avoid a penalty point at the next race in Canada (15 June) in order to avoid a ban for the Austrian Grand Prix (29 June).
Max Verstappen, after finishing 10th:
17:20 , Kieran JacksonOn the Russell incident: “Does it matter? Yeah ok, that’s great. I prefer to speak about the race, then one single moment.”
On whether the collision damages his reputation: “Is it? Yeah, ok. That’s your opinion.
“We’ll leave it there.”
Leclerc and Verstappen with stewards
17:05 , Kieran JacksonA reminder that Leclerc and Verstappen are still under investigation for that contact on the main straight after the safety car restart.
Therefore, the final result still in some doubt currently.
George Russell, after the incident with Verstappen:
16:59 , Kieran Jackson“I was as surprised as you guys were!I’ve seen those manoeuvres before in simulators and go-karting, not in Formula 1. I’m in P4, he’s P10 - I don’t know what’s going through his mind, it felt deliberate in the moment, it felt surprising.
On the penalty: “That’s not my place to say, I’m not going to give it any thought, we have our problems. It’s down to the stewards to decide if it was deliberate or not, Max is such an amazing driver, so many people look up to him, it seems completely unnecessary.
“I’m too close to give my opinion on behalf of the drivers but, in Austin last year, some of the best moves ever. Then Mexico, let’s himself down a bit, Imola, one of the best moves, and then this happens. It cost him and his team a lot of points.
“I’m not going to lose sleep, we’ve got our own issues to deal with.”
Time for the podium!
16:29The Australian and British national anthem plays out in Barcelona as Piastri and McLaren celebrate another victory!
Piastri extends his lead in the world championship to 10 points to Lando Norris!
Charles Leclerc, after finishing P3:
16:14 , Kieran JacksonOn Verstappen collision: “I sacrificed a lot in qualifying to get more tyres in the race, didn’t know it’d pay off.
“I was optimistic because I knew how bad the hard was, needed to have a good restart. It all worked out well.”
It is being investigated by the stewards....
Lando Norris, after finishing P2:
16:05 , Kieran Jackson“Oscar did a good race today, we both got pretty sideways with the restart - it was a good fun race, to finish one-two is a great result!
Oscar Piastri after winning:
15:59 , Kieran Jackson“A great weekend overall, very proud of the work we’ve done this weekend!
“My restart was OK, not sure my rear tyres were happy! It was good enough!”
VIDEO: Verstappen-Russell collision
15:53 , Kieran JacksonMax Verstappen is told to let George Russell through and then the two collide! 😲 pic.twitter.com/SpNBwLoGaj
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 1, 2025
TOP-10 IN THE SPANISH GP
15:45 , Kieran Jackson1. Oscar Piastri
2. Lando Norris
3. Charles Leclerc
4. George Russell
5. Nico Hulkenberg
6. Lewis Hamilton
7. Isack Hadjar
8. Pierre Gasly
9. Fernando Alonso
10. Max Verstappen*
*Verstappen received a 10-second time penalty post-race for causing a collision with George Russell
Oscar Piastri after coming home in first!
15:44 , Kieran Jackson“Great weekend, couldn’t have asked for more!
“Very well done, well managed!”
Max Verstappen has a 10-second time penalty!
15:38 , Kieran JacksonVerstappen has a 10-second penalty!
He drops from fifth to 10th!
Wow!
Oscar Piastri wins the Spanish GP!
15:38 , Kieran JacksonA Piastri cruise! He wins in Barcelona from pole!
Norris takes second, with Leclerc in third.
4-10: Russell, Verstappen, Hulkenberg, Hamilton, Hadjar, Gasly, Alonso
What a result for Hulkenberg! And Alonso gets his first points of the season!
