Russell brands Verstappen a poor role model as world champ mocks crash fallout after 10-second penalty.

George Russell has accused Max Verstappen of deliberately crashing into him during the Spanish Grand Prix, insisting the reigning world champion should have been disqualified and warning that the Dutchman is setting a poor example for young drivers.

The dramatic collision occurred in the final laps at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya, where Verstappen struck Russell’s Mercedes after initially being ordered to give the place back following an earlier clash at turn one. The incident earned Verstappen a 10-second penalty, which dropped him from fifth to 10th in the final standings. But for Russell, the punishment didn’t come close to fitting the crime.

“It felt very deliberate,” Russell said post-race. “We’re putting our lives on the line out there. Yes, the cars are incredibly safe these days, but we can’t afford to take that for granted. What Max did was completely unnecessary—and dangerous. I’ve seen that kind of move in sim racing or karting, but never at this level. It felt strange. Bizarre. I really don’t know what was going through his mind.”

The stewards also slapped Verstappen with three penalty points, bringing his total to 11—just one shy of an automatic one-race suspension. Yet Verstappen showed no remorse. Speaking after the race, the Red Bull driver brushed aside the controversy, even taking a jab at Russell. “He has his view, I have mine,” Verstappen said. “It’s better not to comment. In life, you shouldn’t regret too many things. I don’t regret anything. And if it helps, I’ll bring some tissues next time.”

The incident began when Verstappen ran wide at turn one while battling Russell but failed to relinquish the position immediately. After eventually moving aside to comply with team instructions, Verstappen then appeared to accelerate into Russell’s car just as the Brit passed him—making clear contact with the Mercedes.

Nico Rosberg, the 2016 world champion, called for disqualification during live commentary, echoing the view that Verstappen’s manoeuvre crossed a line. Russell agreed with Rosberg’s assessment: “If it was truly deliberate, absolutely. You just cannot do that. It’s not what this sport should be about.”

Russell also pointed to the wider message such actions send. “It lets him down. It’s a shame, really—for all the young kids watching us and dreaming of becoming Formula One drivers. That’s not the example we should be setting.”

Verstappen declined to clarify whether the move was intentional. While Red Bull offered no formal defence, insiders suggested the team viewed the penalty as harsh but final. Verstappen, for his part, showed no interest in making peace or offering an olive branch.

Meanwhile, McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris—who secured a commanding one-two finish in Barcelona—stayed largely out of the drama. “I’d rather watch the footage first,” said Piastri, the race winner. Norris, catching a glimpse of the incident in the cooldown room, quipped: “I’ve done that before… on Mario Kart.”

The collision adds to a growing list of Verstappen’s controversies and raises the stakes for the next round, where another incident could sideline him entirely. The Dutch driver now carries 11 penalty points on his FIA Super Licence, just one away from a mandatory one-race ban—a rare punishment in F1 history.

With tensions simmering and the title race wide open, Verstappen’s aggressive style may now face more scrutiny than ever. For Russell, the matter is simple: “There’s hard racing, and then there’s that. We need to draw a line.