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George Russell Blasts Max Verstappen Over ‘Go-Kart Move’ in Spanish GP

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Samriddhi Jaiswal | Last updated Jun 1, 2025 1:19 PM ET

George Russell didn’t hold back after a controversial clash with Max Verstappen in the closing stages of the Spanish Grand Prix, accusing the Red Bull driver of pulling a “simulator game” move that had no place in Formula 1.

The drama unfolded on Lap 61 of 66, shortly after a Safety Car bunched the field for a dramatic sprint to the finish. Verstappen, under pressure and visibly struggling for grip, lit up his rear tires at the final corner, nearly losing control. Leclerc passed him for fourth, and Verstappen then cut across the chicane to block Russell.

Moments later, Verstappen made contact with Russell prompting immediate questions about his conduct. Russell, who ultimately finished fourth, minced no words in his post-race interview with Sky Sports F1.

“I was as surprised as you guys were,” he said. “I’ve seen those sorts of manoeuvres on simulator games and go-karting, but never in Formula 1. It felt deliberate in the moment, so it felt surprising.”

Russell refused to call directly for a black flag but added, “Max is such an amazing driver, and so many people look up to him. It’s just a shame something like that continues to occur. It seems totally unnecessary and never seems to benefit himself.”

The British driver also reflected on Verstappen’s inconsistent decision-making: “It’s like in Austin last year, some of the best moves ever, then you go to Mexico and he lets himself down a bit. You go to Imola with one of the best moves of all time, then this happens.”

SkySports: Was the move on George intentional?

Max: "Does it matter?"

SkySports: I think so, to the people watching

Max: "Yeah? Okay. That's great. I prefer to speak about the race, rather than just one single moment." pic.twitter.com/74iIbgrtYH
— Verstappen News (@verstappenews) June 1, 2025

Verstappen, who fell to 10th after receiving a 10-second time penalty, was in no mood to explain himself. When asked whether his contact with Russell was intentional, he responded curtly: “Does it matter?”

And when pressed again: “Yeah, OK. That’s great. I prefer to speak about the race rather than one single moment.” The clash has added yet another chapter to Verstappen’s growing list of on-track controversies.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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