Move 'was not right', says 'frustrated' Verstappen

Max Verstappen says that "frustration" led to his collision pinch George Russell during nan Spanish Grand Prix and that nan move "was not correct and shouldn't person happened".

Russell said that nan Formula 1 world champion "let himself down" by appearing to thrust deliberately into nan British driver's Mercedes successful Barcelona.

The Red Bull driver, who has won nan past 4 championships, received a 10-second punishment for nan incident, which dropped nan Dutchman from 5th to 10th successful nan last result.

In consequence to Russell's comments, Verstappen said connected Sunday that he would "bring immoderate tissues adjacent time" and that nan collision was "a misjudgement".

But connected Monday nan 27-year-old posted connected societal media:, external "We had an breathtaking strategy and bully title successful Barcelona, till nan information car came out.

"Our tyre prime to nan extremity and immoderate moves aft nan information car restart fuelled my frustration, starring to a move that was not correct and shouldn't person happened.

"I ever springiness everything retired location for nan squad and emotions tin tally high. You triumph immoderate together, you suffer immoderate together."

Verstappen's punishment near him 49 points down title leader Oscar Piastri of McLaren, who won Sunday's title from team-mate Lando Norris.

Verstappen was besides fixed 3 punishment points connected his licence. That takes nan four-time world champion to 11, 1 short of a title ban.

Verstappen had been connected people for a beardown 3rd spot successful Barcelona until nan information car was deployed precocious successful nan race.

All nan leaders - and astir of nan remainder of nan section - pitted for caller soft tyres, but Red Bull opted to springiness Verstappen caller difficult tyres.

He questioned nan determination upon returning to nan way and squad main Christian Horner admitted that successful hindsight, nan champion prime would person been to time off Verstappen retired connected softs which had done 8 racing laps.

On nan restart, Verstappen astir mislaid power connected nan exit of nan last corner. He was instantly passed by Charles Leclerc connected nan straight, nan 2 cars lightly rubbing arsenic their trajectories converged, and past by Russell into nan first corner, wherever they banged wheels.

Verstappen accused Russell of barging him disconnected nan track, and was besides upset astir nan Leclerc incident. But aft stewards launched an investigation into him leaving nan way and gaining an advantage, Red Bull decided to inquire him to fto Russell by, to debar a penalty.

Verstappen based on against it, but was told by title technologist Gianpiero Lambiase that it was "the rules".

Moments later, nan conflict occured astatine Turn Five connected thigh 64 of 66, and stewards decided Verstappen had "significantly reduced (his) velocity thereby appearing to let [Russell] to overtake" but that erstwhile Russell was up Verstappen "suddenly accelerated and collided pinch [Russell]".

Horner admitted Verstappen was "obviously upset and annoyed" and "frustrated" but said they would talk nan matter internally.

The 3 punishment points that Verstappen received mean he will person to support his chemoreceptor cleanable complete nan adjacent 2 races successful Canada and Austria.

After those races, immoderate points will travel disconnected his licence because they spell beyond their year's expiry.

It was clear that Verstappen had beautiful overmuch already accepted he was astatine responsibility for his collision pinch Russell astatine Turn Five during nan closing stages of nan Spanish Grand Prix erstwhile he admitted aft nan title that it was a "misjudgement".

The remark was somewhat mislaid among his barbed responses to various different questions astir Russell's comments, specified arsenic "I'll bring immoderate tissues adjacent time". But it was there.

Another giveaway was that he would not reside nan incident astatine each - successful overmuch nan aforesaid measurement arsenic he would not reside his ain driving successful Mexico past year, erstwhile he was fixed 2 10-second penalties for incidents pinch Lando Norris connected nan aforesaid lap.

Admitting responsibility does not travel easy to Verstappen. It's a portion of his competitory make-up, which is intense. It is partially what drives immoderate of his superb episodes of driving, specified arsenic his spectacular walk for nan lead connected nan first thigh of Imola.

The irony is that Verstappen was yet proved correct successful nan incident that had been cardinal successful nan bid of situations that had truthful angered him - Russell's overtaking effort astatine Turn One.

Red Bull ordered Verstappen to springiness nan spot backmost aft he had taken to nan flight roadworthy pursuing a touch betwixt nan 2 cars.

Verstappen disagreed, saying he had been barged disconnected nan track. After nan race, nan stewards said they took nary further action - successful different words, he did not person to cede position.

The punishment that dropped Verstappen to 10th has costs Verstappen a chunk of points successful nan championship. He said aft nan title that he had "never said that I was successful nan title fight".

That's true, he hadn't. But he was. And he still is.

If he goes backmost to normal him - perfectly getting nan champion imaginable retired of each title play - he tin still make a conflict of this season. And he will.