Russell demands disqualification for Verstappen's 'deliberate' crash
George Russell has sensationally called for Max Verstappen's disqualification from the Spanish Grand Prix, accusing the world champion of deliberately crashing into him. Despite Verstappen receiving a 10-second penalty, Russell views the incident as a dangerous act setting a poor example for young drivers. Verstappen, however, dismissed the claims, stating he had "no regrets" and mockingly offering tissues to Russell, further escalating their on-track rivalry.
The aftermath of the Spanish Grand Prix has been dominated by a fiery exchange between George Russell and Max Verstappen, with Russell strongly advocating for the world champion's disqualification after a contentious on-track collision. Verstappen, who received a 10-second penalty that demoted him from fifth to tenth place, has vehemently dismissed Russell's accusations, adding a sarcastic "Well, I’ll bring some tissues next time" in response to the British driver's protests.
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Russell was unequivocal when asked if the incident warranted disqualification, stating, "If it was truly deliberate then absolutely. Because you cannot deliberately crash into another driver. We are putting our lives on the line." He described the maneuver as "very deliberate," drawing parallels to actions he'd witnessed in sim racing and go-karts, calling it "strange, bizarre."
The incident unfolded after Verstappen was instructed by his team to cede a position to Russell following an earlier clash at Turn 1 where Verstappen went off but maintained his lead. Three laps later, as Verstappen appeared to yield the place, he then seemingly accelerated into the side of Russell's Mercedes. Russell condemned such actions as "totally unnecessary" and lamented the negative example it sets for aspiring young drivers.
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Verstappen, however, remained unrepentant, refusing to comment on whether the contact was deliberate and asserting he had no intention of engaging with Russell on the matter. "He has his view, I have my view. It’s better not to comment. In life you shouldn’t regret too many things. [I have] no regrets," he stated.
Even McLaren teammate Lando Norris, after reviewing the footage, quipped, "I’ve done that before… on Mario Kart," highlighting the unusual nature of the crash. The incident also saw Verstappen incur three penalty points on his Super Licence, bringing his total to 11, just one point shy of triggering a one-race ban.
