Max Verstappen has stated his controversial collision with George Russell on the Spanish Grand Prix “was not proper” and “should not have occurred” in a publish on social media the morning after the race.
The four-time world champion was given a 10-second penalty for inflicting the collision after he appeared to let Russell overtake on the entry of Flip 5, solely to speed up and drive into the facet of the Mercedes.
Verstappen confirmed no indicators of contrition in his post-race interviews and when requested if he brought on the collision on function, he responded, “does it matter?”
Nonetheless, in a publish on Instagram on Monday morning, the Purple Bull driver admitted his mistake, saying he had been annoyed by the occasions main as much as the incident.
“We had an thrilling technique and good race in Barcelona, until the protection automotive got here out,” Verstappen stated. “Our tyre option to the top and a few strikes after the protection automotive restart fuelled my frustration, resulting in a transfer that was not proper and should not have occurred.
“I all the time give every little thing on the market for the staff and feelings can run excessive. You win some collectively, you lose some collectively. See you in Montreal.”
The Purple Bull driver was operating third when a security automotive was deployed to take away Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes from the Flip 10 gravel entice.
As a result of Verstappen had already used his allocation of sentimental and medium tyres over a three-stop technique, he had solely a set of onerous tyres left to suit when he pitted underneath the protection automotive.
The 2 automobiles behind him — Charles Leclerc and Russell — each fitted tender tyres underneath the protection automotive and subsequently had a efficiency benefit when racing resumed.
Leclerc handed Verstappen shortly after they crossed the beginning end line to renew racing, whereas Russell tried a transfer into Flip 1 that noticed the Mercedes driver slide into Verstappen and pressure the Purple Bull driver large.
The stewards launched an investigation into the incident, which Purple Bull feared may lead to Verstappen receiving a penalty for leaving the monitor and gaining a bonus.
Verstappen’s engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, radioed the reigning champion to inform him to present the place again to Russell to keep away from a possible penalty — a lot to the frustration of Verstappen.
On the strategy to Flip 5 on the next lap, Verstappen appeared to cede the place to Russell, solely to speed up once more earlier than the apex and collide with the Mercedes.
The stewards deemed Verstappen completely at fault for the collision and issued a 10-second penalty and three penalty factors on his superlicence.
The extra penalty factors imply for the subsequent two races Verstappen will likely be one level away from a race ban.
In the meantime, the tenth place end has dropped Verstappen 49 factors off championship chief Oscar Piastri within the drivers’ standings.
