**Max Verstappen Admits Fault Over 2025 Spanish GP Collision with George Russell**
Four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen has finally addressed the collision with George Russell that occurred during the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix. The Dutch driver openly admitted that the incident was his mistake and explained the circumstances that led to his decision.
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### The Incident at the 2025 Spanish GP
Following the safety car restart at the 2025 Spanish GP, Verstappen, running on the harder tire compound, found himself under intense pressure from both Charles Leclerc and George Russell along the start-finish straight. Leclerc managed to overtake Verstappen on the straight, and the Red Bull driver then engaged in a battle with Russell into Turn 1. To avoid contact, Verstappen had to cut the corner.
A few turns later, as Russell attempted an outside move, Verstappen ran wide and ended up colliding with the Mercedes driver. The incident prompted the Stewards to hand Verstappen a 10-second time penalty.
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### Verstappen’s Admission
After the race in Interlagos, Verstappen publicly acknowledged that he could have handled the situation better at Barcelona. Speaking about the collision, he said:
> “The only point of criticism is obviously Barcelona. Those moments won’t happen again next year, even if we’re in a similar situation with the car.”
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### Fan Reactions
Max Verstappen’s admission, five months after the incident, triggered widespread reactions on social media.
Some fans appreciated his honesty, with one user commenting:
> “He waited long enough for him to admit it publicly because now they can’t mess with him.”
Others were less forgiving, expressing frustration over the delay in acknowledgment:
> “Omfg, words I never thought I’d hear! But how long has it taken him to admit his dumb*ss decision?? Like, come on now.”
There were also claims that Verstappen had escaped a harsher penalty due to his accruing penalty points:
> “Should have been DQ’d but FIA is like family for him. Rules are discretionary when it comes to Max,” noted another fan.
Others echoed this sentiment:
> “It’s just crazy because he really escaped a race ban.”
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### Comments on Verstappen’s Driving Style
Some fans also referenced Verstappen’s comments about not being able to drive at 80% and speculated how this might not suit a team like Ferrari, where drivers often have to use lift-and-coast (LICO) techniques to manage brakes and tires. Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have received multiple LICO messages during races in Singapore and Mexico.
One user humorously remarked:
> “Bro won’t last a minute in the Ferrari asylum where you have to lico 200m every lap 🤣.”
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### The History of Verstappen vs. Russell
The rivalry between Max Verstappen and George Russell has been tense since 2023. Their conflicts intensified at the 2023 Azerbaijan GP sprint race, where a collision caused significant damage to Verstappen’s car. Post-race, Verstappen publicly called Russell a “di*ckhead.”
At the 2024 Qatar GP qualifying, Russell complained to the Stewards about Verstappen driving too slowly, which resulted in a one-place grid penalty for Verstappen. Following this, Verstappen admitted that he had lost respect for Russell.
Their rivalry peaked again at the 2025 Spanish GP incident, where their wheel-to-wheel combat culminated in the controversial collision. Even later at the 2025 Mexican GP, Russell raised concerns about Verstappen and other drivers leaving the track at Turn 1 to gain an advantage without penalty.
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Max Verstappen’s acknowledgment of his mistake signals the hope for fewer incidents between these two fierce competitors in the future. Fans and analysts will be watching closely as the 2026 season unfolds.
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*Edited by Pranay Bhagi*
https://www.sportskeeda.com/f1/news-he-waited-long-enough-admit-publicly-fans-react-max-verstappen-s-major-admission-george-russell-incident-barcelona
