Verstappen admits Russell crash 'was not right'

Max Verstappen has said his arguable collision with George Russell astatine the Spanish Grand Prix "was not right" and "shouldn't person happened" in a station connected societal media the greeting aft the race.

The four-time satellite champion was fixed a 10-second punishment for causing the collision aft helium appeared to fto Russell overtake connected the introduction of Turn 5, lone to accelerate and thrust into the broadside of the Mercedes.

Verstappen showed nary signs of contrition successful his post-race interviews and erstwhile asked if helium caused the collision connected purpose, helium responded, "does it matter?"

However, successful a station connected Instagram connected Monday morning, the Red Bull operator admitted his mistake, saying helium had been frustrated by the events starring up to the incident.

"We had an breathtaking strategy and bully contention successful Barcelona, till the information car came out," Verstappen said. "Our tyre prime to the extremity and immoderate moves aft the information car restart fuelled my frustration, starring to a determination that was not close and shouldn't person happened.

"I ever springiness everything retired determination for the squad and emotions tin tally high. You triumph immoderate together, you suffer immoderate together. See you successful Montreal."

The Red Bull operator was moving 3rd erstwhile a information car was deployed to region Andrea Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes from the Turn 10 gravel trap.

Because Verstappen had already utilized his allocation of brushed and mean tyres implicit a three-stop strategy, helium had lone a acceptable of hard tyres near to acceptable erstwhile helium pitted nether the information car.

The 2 cars down him -- Charles Leclerc and Russell -- some fitted brushed tyres nether the information car and truthful had a show vantage erstwhile racing resumed.

Leclerc passed Verstappen soon aft they crossed the commencement decorativeness enactment to resume racing, portion Russell attempted a determination into Turn 1 that saw the Mercedes operator descent into Verstappen and unit the Red Bull operator wide.

The stewards launched an probe into the incident, which Red Bull feared mightiness effect successful Verstappen receiving a punishment for leaving the way and gaining an advantage.

Verstappen's engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, radioed the reigning champion to archer him to springiness the presumption backmost to Russell to debar a imaginable punishment -- overmuch to the vexation of Verstappen.

On the attack to Turn 5 connected the pursuing lap, Verstappen appeared to cede the presumption to Russell, lone to accelerate again earlier the apex and collide with the Mercedes.

The stewards deemed Verstappen wholly astatine responsibility for the collision and issued a 10-second punishment and 3 punishment points connected his superlicence.

The further punishment points mean for the adjacent 2 races Verstappen volition beryllium one constituent distant from a contention ban.

Meanwhile, the 10th spot decorativeness has dropped Verstappen 49 points disconnected title person Oscar Piastri successful the drivers' standings.