George Russell has insisted that Max Verstappen should have faced disqualification after he crashed into the British driver at the Spanish Grand Prix, claiming he felt the world champion had done so deliberately and that he was setting a bad example for young drivers.
Verstappen, who was bullish after a race where he received a 10‑second penalty that dropped him from fifth at the flag to 10th, dismissed Russell’s comments, maintaining he had no regrets and mocking the British driver’s reactions with the comment: “Well, I’ll bring some tissues next time.”
When asked if he thought the incident warranted disqualification as the former world champion Nico Rosberg had stated, Russell was unequivocal. “If it was truly deliberate then absolutely,” he said. “Because you cannot deliberately crash into another driver. We are putting our lives on the line. We are fortunate the cars are as safe as they are these days but we shouldn’t take it for granted.
“It felt very deliberate. It is something I have seen numerous times in sim racing and go-karts. I have never seen it in a Formula One race. It felt strange, bizarre and I really don’t know what was going through his mind.”
Verstappen was told by his team to give a place back to Russell in the latter stages of the race. The pair had struck one another at turn one and the Dutchman had gone off but maintained his position in front of Russell. Three laps later, having moved over to cede the place, he then appeared to accelerate into the side of Russell’s Mercedes.
“Manoeuvres like that are totally unnecessary,” Russell said. “It lets him down, and it is a shame for all of the young kids looking up to us, aspiring to be Formula One drivers.”
Verstappen declined to comment on the incident when asked whether it had been deliberate or not and said he had no intention of engaging with Russell on the subject. “He has his view, I have my view. It’s better not to comment. In life you shouldn’t regret too many things. [I have] no regrets.”
The race winner, Oscar Piastri, also declined to comment on it until he had seen what happened in more detail, as did his McLaren teammate Lando Norris who finished second. But on viewing the incident in the cooldown room post-race Norris noted: “I’ve done that before … on Mario Kart.”
Verstappen also took three penalty points on his licence for the incident, moving him to 11, with one more triggering a one-race ban.
