George Russell expressed surprise at Max Verstappen's acceptance of responsibility for their collision during the Spanish Grand Prix.

Verstappen received a 10-second penalty, dropping him to 10th place after the incident with Russell. This move by the Dutch driver was unprecedented in Formula One, according to Russell.

The reigning world champion later admitted on social media that his actions were inappropriate and should not have occurred. Russell commented, "His actions cost him, and they benefited me. So, I should be almost thanking him. But it's good to see that he took accountability, which I was a bit surprised."

Verstappen's penalty also included three points on his super licence, bringing his total to 11 over the past year. These points remain valid for one year before expiring. However, Verstappen will not lose any points until after the races in Montreal and Austria at the end of June.

Russell speculated about Verstappen's intentions during their clash at Barcelona's turn five. He believed Verstappen aimed to push him off the track but did not think it was intentional. "I think he just misjudged it," Russell added.

In Barcelona, Verstappen seemed set for third place until a late safety car intervention changed the dynamics. After the restart, Charles Leclerc overtook him as Verstappen struggled with control exiting turn one. Russell then engaged with Verstappen in a wheel-to-wheel battle.

The stewards investigated whether Verstappen gained an advantage by leaving the track during this tussle. To avoid further penalties, Red Bull instructed him to let Russell pass after initially appearing to slow down for an overtake attempt.

Future Implications

This weekend marks a critical point for Verstappen as he navigates potential penalties following his encounter with Russell. The Mercedes driver believes a ban would be justified if Verstappen accumulates 12 points on his licence.

"If he gets his 12 points, it wouldn't be unjust," said Russell. "So that's literally why it's there." Despite this situation, Verstappen remains unfazed about altering his racing style.

"I cannot just back out of everything," stated Verstappen confidently. "I'm just going to race like I always do." He emphasised trust in himself and continued commitment to racing hard without concern over potential penalties.

Russell considered the penalty given to Verstappen in Spain fair but noted that if it had ended his race prematurely, it might have warranted a different assessment.