Max Verstappen was handed a 10-second penalty and dropped to 10th place after a controversial collision with George Russell during the closing stages of the Austrian Grand Prix. The incident occurred just after a late safety car period, with five laps to go.
As the race resumed, Verstappen lost third place to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and immediately found himself under pressure from Russell’s Mercedes. In an attempt to defend his position, Verstappen ran off the track. His team instructed him to give the place back to Russell — a standard move when a driver gains an advantage by leaving the circuit.
However, rather than cleanly surrendering the position, Verstappen appeared to slow down going into Turn 5 with two laps remaining and then sharply veered into Russell’s car, causing contact. The stewards deemed the move reckless and issued a 10-second time penalty.
Why Was It Considered Serious?
Deliberate retaliation: Verstappen didn’t deny that the move was intentional, raising concerns about sportsmanship. Former world champion Nico Rosberg, speaking on Sky Sports, said the act resembled a clear case of retaliation and even called for a disqualification, citing rules that would typically warrant a black flag (disqualification) for deliberate contact.
Escalating tensions: The incident wasn’t isolated. Verstappen accused Leclerc of forcing him off track during an earlier overtake and claimed Russell pushed him off, prompting him to take to the escape road.
Stewards’ investigation: Both Verstappen and Leclerc were summoned by the stewards post-race for further investigation into their on-track clash.
The incident adds another chapter to Verstappen’s growing rivalry with Russell, after the two exchanged tense words last season. While the penalty stood, many — including Rosberg — felt it was too lenient for what looked like intentional contact on track.
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