Max Verstappen’s weekend at the Spanish Grand Prix was marked by tension and surprises, noted by Sky F1 pundit Naomi Schiff, who observed unrest in Verstappen’s ‘body language’ even before his clash with George Russell.
Verstappen, the reigning F1 world champion, found himself in an unusual position during the Spanish GP weekend, a scenario that started unfolding during the qualifying session. Schiff remarked that Verstappen appeared ‘resigned’ after qualifying behind the formidable McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, indicating a simmering frustration within the Red Bull driver long before the race day drama unfolded.
The race itself turned tumultuous for Verstappen. A strategic decision by Red Bull to switch him to hard tires during a late Safety Car period set the stage for a series of confrontations, the most notable being a run-in with Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari before a more serious entanglement with George Russell at Turn 1. Verstappen, clearly displeased with the tire choice, initially refused Red Bull’s instruction to concede the place to Russell to avoid a penalty. This decision led to a firm contact with Russell’s Mercedes.
Ultimately, the clash with Russell resulted in a 10-second penalty for Verstappen, which demoted him from fifth to tenth place in the final classification. Additionally, he accrued three penalty points, bringing him perilously close to a race suspension. After initially standing by his actions, Verstappen later conceded that the incident with Russell ‘was not right and shouldn’t have happened.’
Despite hopes that the Spanish GP would transform the competitive dynamics of the 2025 F1 season due to new technical directives on front wings, McLaren maintained its dominance in Barcelona. While Red Bull grappled with their internal strategies, McLaren’s Piastri and Norris smoothly turned their front-row lockout into another one-two finish.
In a revealing team radio exchange, Verstappen’s frustration was palpable as he questioned the decision to race with the hard tires, a compound choice that caught him off-guard. Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, explained that hard tires were the only option left after soft and medium compounds had been used earlier. Verstappen’s surprise and dissatisfaction were clear when he realized no other driver had opted for hards during the entire 66-lap event.
Verstappen’s narrow escape from a race ban means Red Bull is potentially preparing for his absence. If Verstappen collects one more penalty point, he could face a one-race ban. Insiders suggest that Isack Hadjar or Liam Lawson might replace Verstappen, although reports hint that neither driver’s previous experience should hinder their potential participation.
The Spanish Grand Prix proved to be a challenging weekend for Max Verstappen, marked by strategic missteps and on-track incidents. As tensions mount within the team, and with Verstappen hovering on the verge of a race ban, Red Bull must navigate its options carefully to maintain its competitive edge in the season.
