Genius and recklessness in F1—traits that Max Verstappen has embodied at Red Bull since his debut in the top class. But how can one recount the dark side of a champion when it resurfaces, while also celebrating him? Quite simply, reporting cannot stop at analyzing his outbursts, especially in light of yet another demonstration of superiority shown during the scorching Spanish afternoon.
It’s a simple acknowledgment of reality, beyond the excesses that are part of the package. Max Verstappen is this: genius and recklessness, take it or leave it. Because the fairytale of maturity after the world titles, so often fed endlessly by the media, melts away like snow in the sun when he’s forced to show his claws. Jos’s son hasn’t mellowed, and never will. It’s part of his nature.
Thanks to Red Bull’s creative strategy, the four-time world champion delivered a display of driving on the limit, squeezing his RB21 like a lemon in an attempt to at least stay within reach of the McLaren pair. Everything was going according to plan. The Dutch ace was within reach of the final podium spot when the unpredictable appeared in the form of a Safety Car about ten laps from the end.
A monstrous first half of the race
The “orange beast” passed Lando Norris after the lights went out. It became clear, after just a few laps, that car number 1 wouldn’t be able to match the McLarens’ pace. Therefore, the Austrian team’s pit wall attempted a very aggressive strategy. With the possibility of shorter stints, Red Bull and the Dutch champion reminded us how thrilling F1 could be.
For both spectators and drivers, there was no pressure to “do the math.” Drivers overtaken like cones thanks to fresher compounds at various stages of the race, while everyone else stuck to the strict protocol of two pit stops, replicating the timing dictated by their race engineers. In contrast, car number 1 animated the race until just a few laps from the end, when the positions seemed all but locked in.
The unpredictable reveals the open secret
When Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes ended up in the gravel due to a failure, the Safety Car reshuffled the deck. What had seemed like a brilliant call from the Milton Keynes strategists became Max’s downfall. The only viable tyre choice was the Hard compound. In hindsight, staying out on the used Softs might have been enough to finish the race decently.
The C1 compound—never used even in practice—was a death sentence for the Dutch driver. And so it was. After excellent car control on the restart, Max was easily passed by Charles Leclerc. George Russell also tried in the braking zone but lost control and leaned into the RB21. Max Verstappen went full throttle through the escape road to get back ahead of George.
The clash with George Russell
The most controversial moment occurred in Turn 5: on instruction from Lambiase, he seemed to slow to give the place back to Russell, only to accelerate again, making contact with the Briton’s Mercedes W16. A clumsy move, if the goal was to quickly fall in behind car 63. A well-deserved penalty, accepted with grace by Verstappen himself.
Perhaps in the next rounds we’ll see a far more conservative driver—not because his nature has changed, but simply because the Spanish Grand Prix showed that fighting these McLarens is a lost cause. In Barcelona, a new phase begins for Max, one where he is unlikely to play the hare. Both due to obvious technical inferiority and the need to avoid sanctions that could lead to a race ban by the end of June.
In light of the season’s outlook, we’re certain the Dutch champion wouldn’t make a drama out of it. That said, some questions must be asked: what kind of show would Formula 1 be without Max Verstappen? If it’s true that the Dutch ace’s conduct is too reckless, why is he never handed a black flag or a race ban, despite the penalty points? It’s up to you, the readers, to draw the conclusion.
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