Tensions flared at the Spanish Grand Prix as Max Verstappen and George Russell clashed twice following a late Safety Car, with the second incident at Turn 5 drawing sharp criticism from the Mercedes driver, who described it as feeling “deliberate.” Verstappen later admitted the move “shouldn’t have happened” and apologized to his Red Bull team, according to team principal Christian Horner.
The controversial contact adds to Verstappen’s penalty tally, bringing him to 11 points within the last 12 months—just one short of a race ban. Before his admission, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff weighed in, comparing Verstappen’s mindset to other sporting greats and suggesting that elite athletes sometimes wrongly believe the world is against them.
Russell ultimately finished fourth behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. It marked his best result in the European triple-header, contrasting with team-mate Kimi Antonelli’s run of bad luck, including two engine failures and a point-less finish in Monaco.
Wolff expressed concern over Antonelli’s engine trouble in Spain, highlighting it as unusual for Mercedes. He also noted that understanding tyre performance will be key next season, especially as the team struggles in hot conditions—a problem he attributes to the car’s design DNA.
Mercedes has now slipped to third in the Constructors’ Championship, trailing McLaren and Ferrari, with a daunting 203-point gap to the leaders. Wolff acknowledged that despite the resources and engineering talent, some performance factors remain elusive, including McLaren’s rapid pace.
Swifteradio.com
