The fallout from the Spanish Grand Prix continues, with Max Verstappen finally addressing his controversial moment in Barcelona. In a carefully worded Instagram post, Verstappen reflected on the incident, admitting, “our tyre choice to the end and some moves after the safety car restart fuelled my frustration, leading to a move that was not right and shouldn’t have happened.”
The controversy centers around Verstappen’s aggressive maneuver following the safety car restart, which led to contact and ultimately impacted the final race order. His frustration, triggered by strategic decisions and some opportunistic overtakes by rivals, boiled over into a move that crossed the line of acceptable racecraft.
Verstappen repeatedly checked Russell’s position before deliberately slowing and then applying throttle into contact. Telemetry data confirmed he applied additional throttle just before impact. Even many long-time Verstappen fans refused to defend him this time, admitting that while he’s among the most talented drivers ever, this moment was indefensible. His aggressive nature, much like Senna and Schumacher before him, makes him both brilliant and dangerous.
Christian Horner’s immediate social media support and the carefully crafted PR tone of Verstappen’s post further fueled the debate. Many suspect that his social media manager handled the statement with minimal input from Max.
Beyond the driving itself, attention has turned sharply to the FIA’s penalty system. Verstappen currently sits at 11 penalty points, just one away from an automatic race ban. Two points will expire on June 30th, but until then, any additional infractions could result in a ban. Fans remain divided on whether the FIA would ever enforce such a penalty against one of its biggest stars.
The FIA’s history of inconsistent stewarding has only amplified these concerns. Similar incidents involving Vettel in Baku 2017 and several controversial calls in 2021 have eroded confidence in the governing body’s ability to apply rules evenly. Many believe Verstappen’s status allows him to push the limits without facing appropriate consequences, while other drivers face harsher penalties for lesser offenses.
Some even suggest this might be the ideal year for Verstappen to absorb a race ban, with his title hopes already diminished. A race ban now could reset his penalty points and allow him to continue aggressively without fear later in the season. Others cynically joke that Verstappen might even attempt to trigger the ban strategically in an FP1 session.
Meanwhile, Verstappen’s 10th place finish in Barcelona broke multiple statistical streaks. His run of 29 consecutive top-six finishes ended, and his finish marked Red Bull’s worst two-car result since 2016 Sochi, the race right before Verstappen debuted for Red Bull. Remarkably, despite the poor result and 10-second penalty, Verstappen still finished ahead of his teammate, extending his record of beating his teammates in 41 consecutive races when both finished, matching Fernando Alonso’s dominance over Massa.
His incredible consistency remains: outside of DNFs, Verstappen has only finished outside the points once for Red Bull since 2016. Even his sprint race drop to last in Miami was heavily influenced by an unsafe release from the pit crew.
The broader frustration among fans and analysts stems from the perception that Verstappen’s mastery of the rulebook allows him to exploit gray areas while the FIA lacks the will to enforce meaningful deterrents. The current 12-point penalty system is seen as too lenient, with many advocating for fewer points needed to trigger a ban. As long as Verstappen remains fast, and with little risk of serious consequences, many fear these aggressive incidents will continue.
As the paddock shifts to Montreal, Verstappen’s driving, Red Bull’s decision-making, and FIA stewardship remain firmly under the microscope. With two penalty points expiring shortly but more infractions always possible, every session now carries high stakes.
For now, Verstappen moves forward with his usual confidence: “You win some together, you lose some together. See you in Montreal.” But the fallout from Barcelona will likely continue to shape discussions for weeks to come.