F1 | Max Verstappen admits mistake in collision with George Russell. Max Verstappen openly acknowledges his error during the 2025 Spanish GP.

An incident that defined the season

Max Verstappen openly admitted that he made a mistake during the final stages of the Spanish Grand Prix, where the collision with George Russell cost him a ten-second penalty and three license points. The critical moment occurred after the Red Bull team instructed him to give back the position to Mercedes, a decision that Max Verstappen received with clear frustration. In trying to slow down to let George Russell through, he then accelerated again, causing the impact at the next corner. Max Verstappen described the incident as “the only real negative note” in an otherwise strong championship, explaining that the heat of the moment had clouded his judgment.

The dynamics and pressure of the moment

The Safety Car had reshuffled the field: many drivers had switched to soft tires, while Max Verstappen was on hards—a choice that did not convince the world champion. On the restart, a strong slide caused him to lose ground to Charles Leclerc and allowed Russell to attack at the first corner. Max Verstappen ended up in the runoff area while keeping the position, but race control mandated that he yield. He recounted that this sequence of events—the restart, the missed overtake, and the radio instruction—made him “see red,” making it harder to maintain emotional control. He admitted, however, that in hindsight he should have handled everything with more detachment.

Cold analysis and a look to the future

Reflecting on his season, Max Verstappen emphasized that the Barcelona incident is a lesson for next year, assuring that he will not repeat a similar reaction. For him, it is essential to exit the car feeling that he has given everything, and in this case, frustration got the better of him. Although he is still mathematically in contention for the title, the gap to Lando Norris makes a comeback in the remaining races unlikely. George Russell, for his part, expressed surprise at Verstappen’s admission of fault, but the two reconciled immediately afterward, meeting at the airport without any lingering tension.