P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Team radio reveals Max Verstappen fury amid George Russell F1 Spanish GP drama
During a team radio conversation, Max Verstappen expressed his frustration over the George Russell incident in Barcelona, where he was penalized with a 10-second penalty, dropping him from P5 to P10 at the F1 Spanish Grand Prix. Verstappen was instructed by his race engineer to give back track position to Russell after an on-track altercation where Russell lunged at him, causing Verstappen to use the escape road. Despite his anger, the engineer asked Verstappen to let Russell pass, as per the rules. Both drivers expressed their disbelief and discontent over the incident through their team radios, with Russell feeling that Verstappen was at fault. The clash sparked controversy among commentators, with voices like Nico Rosberg and Toto Wolff criticizing Verstappen’s actions and suggesting severe penalties. Verstappen’s post-race frustration was evident during his TV interview, where he downplayed the intentional nature of the contact. With the championship lead slipping away, he is now 49 points behind current leader Oscar Piastri after the Spanish Grand Prix.
