Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton has shared a startling insight into the dramatic crash between Max Verstappen and George Russell during last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix—an incident that has since sparked intense debate and left Verstappen just one penalty point away from a race ban.
Hamilton, who finished sixth after a frustrating and “demoralizing” afternoon in Barcelona, said the race was “the worst I’ve experienced,” but what really caught his attention was what unfolded between his former Mercedes teammate Russell and four-time world champion Verstappen.
“I had a clear view of what happened between Max and George,” Hamilton said post-race. “It was pretty aggressive. From where I was, Max looked like he handed the position back but then lunged right back in almost immediately. That’s not how we’re supposed to race—it was shocking, honestly.”
The controversial incident occurred in the closing stages of the race after a Safety Car restart triggered by Kimi Antonelli’s DNF. Verstappen, disadvantaged on hard tyres compared to the softs of Leclerc and Russell, lost grip exiting the final corner. As Leclerc overtook him on the straight, Verstappen clashed with Russell at Turn 1 shortly after giving the position back—only to attempt an immediate re-overtake, in apparent violation of FIA cooldown regulations.
The FIA reviewed telemetry data that supported Hamilton’s view. They ultimately penalized Verstappen with a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points—bringing his total to 11, just one shy of an automatic one-race ban.
In their statement, the FIA noted:
“While the initial action of returning position complied with regulations, the driver of Car 1 immediately re-engaged in an overtaking maneuver within the regulated cooldown period, thus breaching Article 20.2. The stewards have applied a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points accordingly.”
Russell, who was left fuming after the incident, said:
“It felt very deliberate… like he knew exactly what he was doing. That’s not racing, that’s dangerous.”
Hamilton echoed that sentiment:
“At this level, we’re all trying to win, but there has to be a line. What I saw today was crossing it. It’s a shame because it’s not good for the sport or for the kids watching us.”
As Verstappen now walks a disciplinary tightrope ahead of the Canadian and Austrian GPs, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner issued a warning to his star driver:
“Max needs to keep his nose clean. He knows that. We can’t afford a one-race ban during a championship fight.”
With tensions rising across the paddock, all eyes will be on Verstappen next weekend. For now, Hamilton’s sobering words have added even more fuel to the fire in one of the most intense seasons in recent memory.
