Max Verstappen has admitted that his controversial incident with George Russell at the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix “shouldn’t have happened”.
The Dutchman and the Briton clashed on Lap 64 of the 66-lap race in Barcelona, with the Red Bull appearing to turn into the Mercedes at Turn 5.
Verstappen was frustrated by a series of events instigated by a Safety Car period, and upon its conclusion, he was swamped by Charles Leclerc and Russell, the Ferrari getting through, via some contact, to take third place, thwarting a nailed-on podium for the reigning World Champion.
Amid the same moment of drama, Verstappen held off Russell, but took to the escape exit at Turn 2 to avoid further contact.
Red Bull were of the opinion that Verstappen was likely to receive a penalty for doing so, and told him to move aside, irking him further.
On the exit of Turn 4, Verstappen slowed, with Russell taking fourth on the outside, but as he turned into the hairpin, Verstappen sped up and turn off-line, touching Russell’s car.
Verstappen appeared to show little contrition after the race when speaking to media, but he has now taken to his Instagram account to convey remorse for the incident.
“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,” he wrote.
“I always give everything out there for the team and emotions can run high.”
The stewards placed a 10-second time penalty on Verstappen, sending him down the classification to 10th, as well as the additional of three penalty points to his licence, leaving him just needing one more to instigate an automatic one-race ban.
Verstappen was ironically adjudged to have done nothing wrong in his and Russell’s initial tussle at the restart.
READ MORE – Toto Wolff brands Max Verstappen F1 Spanish GP incident ‘incomprehensible’
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