P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen took on a defiant – and dismissive tone – in talking about his late-race Spanish Grand Prix collision with George Russell, but did eventually push back against the suggestion the clash had been deliberate
Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen addressed the late-race collision with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix, asserting that the clash was not intentional despite initial controversy. Following a late-restart melee and a penalty, Verstappen dropped to 10th place but eventually let Russell back through properly. Verstappen brushed off questions about the crash being deliberate and emphasized that he preferred discussing the overall race rather than focusing on a single moment. He expressed frustration with racing standards and the ambiguity of what is permitted on the track, noting the inconsistent nature of how rules are applied. Despite losing valuable points in the championship, Verstappen maintained that he never claimed to be in a championship fight and highlighted the strong competition from McLaren this season. Evaluating the decision to switch to hard tires for the final restart, Verstappen criticized the choice as “really poor” and suggested that it warrants further analysis in terms of strategic decision-making by Red Bull.
