P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell said he was surprised when Max Verstappen admitted their clash at the 2025 F1 Spanish GP “wasn’t right”, branding it “quite unlike him”.
George Russell expressed surprise at Max Verstappen admitting their clash in the 2025 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix “wasn’t right”, calling it “quite unlike him.” The incident occurred when Russell tried to overtake Verstappen into Turn 1, prompting a controversial move by Verstappen to let Russell pass. Verstappen later apologized on Instagram, citing frustration due to tyre choices and moves made against him.
Ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, Russell shared his astonishment at Verstappen’s rare apology and took an understanding stance, acknowledging that the actions benefitted him personally. Despite the collision, Russell harbored hopes that Verstappen didn’t intentionally crash into him, drawing parallels to significant past clashes in F1 history.
Verstappen now faces the risk of a race ban, being just one point shy on his FIA Super Licence, necessitating a clean race in the upcoming events. Russell humorously predicted that Verstappen might adopt an even more aggressive racing approach to secure a weekend off at home, underscoring the unpredictability and intensity of Formula 1 rivalry.
