Max Verstappen received a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points for an incident with George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix, ultimately finishing 10th. This brings his total penalty points to 11 in the current 12-month period, inching closer to a potential race ban if it reaches 12.
During a safety car period in Barcelona, Verstappen had to pit for hard-compound tires and was overtaken by Charles Leclerc, setting the stage for the incident with Russell. Verstappen was instructed to let Russell pass but disputed the request before ultimately colliding with Russell at Turn 5.
Despite stewards determining that Verstappen was partially correct in the situation, the collision resulted in the 10-second penalty that impacted his finishing position. The incident showcased the tensions and dynamics at play within the competitive world of Formula 1.
