Max Verstappen has admitted that frustration led to his controversial collision with George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix, a move he described as "not right and shouldn't have happened". The incident, which occurred at Turn Five on lap 64 of 66, resulted in a 10-second penalty for the Red Bull driver, dropping him from fifth to 10th in the final standings.

The Incident

Verstappen had been on course for a strong third place in Barcelona until the safety car was deployed late in the race. While most of the field pitted for fresh soft tyres, Red Bull opted to give Verstappen hard tyres, a decision that later proved costly. On the restart, Verstappen nearly lost control on the exit of the final corner, leading to a series of events that culminated in the collision with Russell.

Verstappen's Reaction

In a post on social media, Verstappen expressed his frustration with the tyre choice and the events that followed: "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 also acknowledged that emotions can run high in the heat of competition.

Penalty Points

In addition to the 10-second penalty, Verstappen received three penalty points on his licence, bringing his total to 11. This leaves him just one point short of a race ban. The penalty has also cost him valuable points in the championship, with McLaren's Oscar Piastri now leading by 49 points.

Looking Ahead

Despite the setback, Verstappen remains optimistic about his chances in the championship. "I always give everything out there for the team," he said. "You win some together, you lose some together." If he can return to his usual form, Verstappen believes he can still make a fight of this season.

Analysis

Admitting fault does not come easily to Verstappen, but his competitive nature drives him to get the best out of every race weekend. The incident with Russell has sparked discussions about F1's penalty points system and the intense rivalry between drivers. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Verstappen to see if he can bounce back and challenge for the title.