Wolff: Verstappen move on Russell in Spanish GP ‘incomprehensible’

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was at a loss to understand Max Verstappen's move on George Russell in Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix, branding the Red Bull driver’s apparent deliberate collision with George Russell as “incomprehensible”.

The dramatic incident unfolded in the closing laps of the race in Barcelona following a late Safety Car.

Verstappen, under attack from Charles Leclerc and Russell, found himself in the spotlight after a sequence of decisions that left the paddock – and race stewards – staggered.

The controversy began on Lap 64 when Verstappen ran wide at the final corner and was overtaken by Leclerc, with the two drivers briefly making contact on the straight.

The Dutchman then cut through the escape road at Turn 1, only to return to the track ahead of Russell, this gaining an advantage.

Red Bull instructed its driver to cede the position back to Russell, but what followed was both bizarre and unsettling.

Verstappen slowed exiting Turn 4 as if to comply – but then, in a shocking twist, appeared to veer straight on at the following corner and deliberately drive into the side of Russell’s Mercedes.

Wolff: ‘I Don’t Know What He Aimed For’

After the race, Verstappen was handed a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points – bringing him to 11 out of the maximum 12 allowed before an automatic race ban. But for Wolff, the punishment was secondary to the act itself.

“I just heard, actually, that Max had the call to let him pass. I didn’t know,” Wolff told the media post-race.

“We were under the impression in the race that he had a problem with the car and that’s why he was so slow getting out of [Turn] 4.”

The Austrian’s tone then shifted from bewilderment to concern.

“I mean, if it was road rage – which I can’t imagine because it was too obvious – then it’s not good. But the thing is, I don’t know what he aimed for.”

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Wolff speculated on Verstappen’s intent, suggesting it may have been a cynical tactical maneuver.

“Did he want to let George pass and immediately repass, put George the car ahead? And then, like the old DRS games, letting him pass the right way?

“Or, for me, it’s just incomprehensible. But, again, I don’t know exactly what the motivations were and I don’t want to jump on it and say this was road rage, etc.

“Let’s see what his arguments are. It wasn’t nice.”

A Pattern Resurfacing?

Verstappen’s aggressive driving style has long been a flashpoint in Formula 1 discourse. While he has matured significantly since his earlier years in the sport, Sunday’s events unearthed familiar concerns.

Wolff was asked whether Verstappen’s mindset had echoes of previous controversies—most notably during the fraught 2021 season. His response was telling.

“There’s a pattern that I’ve read,” he said. “The great ones, whether it’s in motor racing or in other sports, you just need to have the world against you and then perform at the highest possible level.

“That’s why sometimes these greats don’t recognise that the world is not against you. It’s just you who have made a mistake or you’ve screwed up, etc.

“We haven’t seen any of these moments with Max for many years now. Obviously, I know the year 2021, that happened. I don’t know where it comes from.”

Yet the resurgence of such behavior in Barcelona has reignited scrutiny of Verstappen’s temperament under pressure.

Wolff’s pointed critique, coupled with Verstappen’s evasive post-race comments, paints a troubling picture of a champion whose reckless moment may have lasting repercussions in a fiercely competitive 2025 season.

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