A Spanish Grand Prix which promised to be exciting ended in a whirlwind of controversies, with Max Verstappen and George Russell at the heart of a confrontation which hit the headlines in the world of Formula 1.. The tension between the Red Bull and Mercedes pilots reached its paroxysm on the Barcelona-Catalogne circuit, where a risky maneuver, An unexpected reaction from Verstappen left fans speechless. The International Automobile Federation (FIA) had no choice but to intervene by an official press release, while social networks were in effervescence. What exactly happened so that this duel makes the headlines so much?

It all started in the last rounds of the race, when a security car, triggered by the abandonment of Kimi Antonelli, interrupted Red Bull’s strategy. Verstappen, third on a three -stop plan, was forced to use hard tires, the only ones available, while his rivals, including Russell, opted for tender tires, a faster second. In Restart, the Dutchman lost positions against Charles Leclerc and, trying to defend himself against Russell, was involved in a controversial incident. According to Russell himself, Verstappen deliberately struck his Mercedes to turn 5, an action that the Briton described as antactive and disappointing, especially for young pilots dreaming of accessing Formula 1.

Verstappen’s frustration was palpable on the radio. After the accident, Red Bull asked him to give way to Russell to avoid a penalty, although the FIA ​​subsequently clarified that it was not necessary, invoking an error of judgment of the team. However, it was Verstappen’s reaction to Russell’s criticism that truly triggered controversy. When the media relayed the words of the Mercedes pilot, Verstappen did not hesitate: “Next time, I will bring handkerchiefs,” he said in an ironic tone, revealing his contempt for the accusations of his rival. But the controversy did not stop there. On social networks, Verstappen admitted that his decision “was not good” and that “that should not have happened”, rare apology who surprised many people, including the Red Bull advisor, Helmut Marko, who said that “making such a confession is not easy for Max”.

The FIA ​​has published two press releases concerning the incident, confirming a 10 -second penalty for Verstappen, downgrades it from fifth to tenth place, as well as three additional points on its super license. With 11 points accumulated in 11 months, the quadruple world champion is just a point of automatic suspension, putting the paddock on alert before the Grand Prix of Canada. Visibly shocked, Marko described this moment as a “infernal”, attributing Verstappen’s behavior to a mixture of emotions and bad decisions taken under pressure.

This confrontation is not an isolated incident. The rivalry between Verstappen and Russell intensified, fueled by previous incidents like that of the Qatar Grand Prix, where Verstappen accused Russell of having acted as a “friendly police officer” after a penalty for braking in qualifying. In Abu Dhabi, Verstappen went so far as to treat the commissioners of “stupid” for a new penalty, although the FIA ​​has decided not to investigate. These tensions have given rise to debates on the aggressive piloting style of Verstappen, which some defend as part of his talent, while others, like Russell, see it as a bad example for sport.

The Spanish Grand Prix, won by Oscar Piastri with Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc on the podium, will remain marked by this episode which has divided the fans. If some praised the passion of Verstappen, others supported Russell for his denunciation of extreme maneuvers. In reality, this duel added a vibrant chapter in the 2025 season, and the next races promise even more suspense. Will Verstappen manage to avoid a penalty that would deprive him of a track? Or will he continue to push the limits? The world of Formula 1 is impatiently awaiting.