F1 News: Max Verstappen makes unusual U-turn in George Russell feud

Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen makes unusual U-turn in George Russell feud

Verstappen and Russell collided at the Spanish GP

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Sunday 16 November 2025 09:58

Max Verstappen has reflected on his 2025 F1 season following the realisation he is likely out of the title fight, and with it addressed his on track feud with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix.

A fifth consecutive world title seems out of the picture for Verstappen after the Brazilian GP, emerging 49 points behind Lando Norris in the standings with three rounds remaining.

However, Verstappen refuses to blame this on his or Red Bull’s performance in Sao Paulo, and instead looked across the whole season where the team have struggled to extract the full potential from their car.

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Speaking to Dutch broadcaster Viaplay, Verstappen identified the Spanish GP as his weakest point of the season, where he once again came to blows with Mercedes rival Russell out on track.

The champion was handed a 10-second time penalty from the FIA’s race stewards after Verstappen appeared to intentionally drive his Red Bull into Russell’s Mercedes.

Verstappen’s penalty dropped him down to 10th and cost him nine world championship points, but the Red Bull driver has now performed a rare U-turn and described the collision as a mistake.

Verstappen admits Russell Spanish GP collision was a ‘mistake’

Verstappen explained: “The only point of criticism is obviously Barcelona. That move itself - and the entire incident - was not good, but that’s also because I care a lot. I could have thought, ‘this car isn’t working anyway, so I let it go.”

“I can’t accept - towards myself - stepping out of the car and knowing that I didn’t give everything. Then I get angry with myself, so I can’t drive at 80 per cent.”

“When I get out of the car, I always need to be able to tell to myself, ‘I did everything I could.’ That’s why I was so angry in Barcelona - first with what happened on the straight at the restart, then into Turn 1, and then of course when I was told to give the position back. That’s when all signs went red.”

“That was a mistake from my side, and of course I learn from it. Those moments won’t happen again next year, even if we’re in a similar situation with the car.

"These are the small things you learn from, but overall, in terms of performance, the season was absolutely good.”

F1 Max Verstappen George Russell Spanish Grand Prix