George Russell warned that Max Verstappen’s “reckless” driving risks a Formula 1 race ban and that it would be entirely justified if he keeps pushing the limits.
The Briton made the comments after their intense collision at the Spanish Grand Prix, highlighting the consequences Verstappen could face if his aggressive approach continues unchecked.
Frustrated by a series of different factors, the Red Bull driver bumped into the side of Russell’s Mercedes in the closing stages of the race.
He later took to social media to admit the move was wrong, after initially avoiding commenting on the incident in the aftermath.
The U-turn surprised Russell, who consistently said the collision didn’t bother him since it cost Verstappen, not himself, as he is now one point away from a race ban.
However, ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, the 27-year-old made it clear that a suspension would be deserved if the reigning World Champion continues to cause trouble.
“If he gets to 12 points, it [a ban] wouldn’t be unjust,” he told Sky Sports. “At the end of the day, that’s why the penalty points are there.
“If you keep driving recklessly, you will accumulate points and get punished with a race ban. You’ve got it in your own hands and it doesn’t go without risk.”
Russell stopped short of accusing Verstappen of deliberately causing a crash, but he still questioned his intent behind the move.
“He was trying to run me off the road,” Russell claimed. “I don’t think he was trying to intentionally crash into me; he wanted to just sort of scare me a bit, but he just misjudged it.
“Again, it wasn’t going to scare me, it was just all a bit surprising.”
Russell shrugs off contact as Verstappen faces risk of ban
Despite the flashpoint moment in Spain, Russell downplayed any lingering frustration with Verstappen and even credited him for owning up to the mistake after initially staying silent.
“I’m not looking for an apology; his actions cost him and they benefited me, so I should be almost thanking him,” he continued.
“Obviously I’d be feeling very differently if it took me out of the race, but it is good to see that he took accountability – I was a bit surprised about that.”
Red Bull boss Christian Horner later revealed that Verstappen issued a private apology to the team behind the scenes, acknowledging his role in the clash with Russell.
The latest clash brings Verstappen’s penalty points total to 11, one short of an automatic ban. He’ll now need to keep a clean sheet through both the Canadian and Austrian Grands Prix.
Even though he maintains he’s not in the title fight – currently trailing championship leader Oscar Piastri by 49 points — the threat of a potential suspension is the last thing Verstappen needs as he looks to turn his season around.
Yet, these are exactly the kind of situations where he tends to thrive. Verstappen has already made it clear he won’t change his approach, placing trust in his ability rather than concerning himself with things beyond his control.
READ MORE – Why Red Bull would cope in the event of a Max Verstappen F1 race ban
