George Russell taken aback by Max Verstappen's apology following Barcelona clash
George Russell Reacts to Max Verstappen’s Apology After Spanish Grand Prix Collision
Montreal — George Russell expressed surprise at Max Verstappen's unexpected apology for their on-track collision during the Spanish Grand Prix, calling the gesture "quite unlike him."
The incident, which occurred in the closing stages of the race in Barcelona, saw Verstappen drive into the side of Russell’s car in frustration. While Verstappen initially dismissed any wrongdoing, delivering a sarcastic retort that he would "bring some tissues" for Russell, the reigning Formula 1 champion later reversed course. In a social media post the day after the race, Verstappen admitted the clash "wasn't right" and "shouldn't have happened."
Russell’s Reaction to the Apology
Russell, no stranger to controversies with Verstappen, described his surprise at the Dutch driver's uncharacteristic contrition during Thursday’s media day for the Canadian Grand Prix.
"I was a bit surprised to see him taking responsibility because it's quite unlike him," Russell remarked. "We actually bumped into each other at the airport a few days ago, but we didn't even chat about it. He was there with his family and his newborn, chatting about how that was going. He was busy folding the pram and trying to get it through the security scanner."
Maintaining a light-hearted tone, Russell added:
"So, look, there's nothing from my side I need to talk about. Had I been taken out of the race, I'd be feeling very differently for sure. Ultimately, his actions benefitted me, cost him, and I should say thanks."
Verstappen’s Perspective on the Incident
Despite the apology, Verstappen appears intent on sticking to his aggressive driving style, even as he inches closer to a potential one-race suspension for accruing penalty points. With two races remaining before certain points on his super license expire, Verstappen acknowledged the misstep but made clear he won't change his approach on track.
"[The post was] sharing my view of things, how I thought that race panned out. Not ideal for me, but that was my statement. And then I went back to enjoying my day," Verstappen explained. "It was a misjudgment, you know, clearly in the corner. But you don't need to go into full detail of why, how, and what. Everyone makes mistakes in life. Everyone learns from them and we just move on."
As for his driving philosophy, Verstappen offered no signs of pulling back:
"I will keep racing the same as I've always done. Mistakes like that don’t define me, and I’m here to compete."
Looking Ahead from Barcelona's Drama
The Canadian Grand Prix now looms as a proving ground for Russell and Verstappen to put their fiery Barcelona moments behind them and refocus on the championship picture. For Verstappen, however, every move will be scrutinized as the threat of suspension looms larger with each passing lap.
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