Nico Rosberg Demands Max Verstappen’s Immediate Disqualification

Nico Rosberg has called for Max Verstappen to be disqualified from the Spanish Grand Prix after a controversial late-race collision with Mercedes driver George Russell.

The incident occurred on lap 64 at Turn 5, only a few laps after a safety car restart that set the field up for a tense finish.

Verstappen, who was fighting to retain fourth place, was ordered by his Red Bull team to yield his position to Russell after contact at the first corner of lap 61.

Despite letting Russell move alongside, Verstappen steered sharply into the Mercedes, making contact that immediately drew the attention of stewards and commentators alike.

The decision by the Red Bull pit wall to have Verstappen give up his place appeared to upset the Dutch driver, who had already lost third to Lewis Hamilton just laps earlier.

Verstappen slowed on the way into Turn 5, but the move that followed raised eyebrows.

Russell voiced instant frustration on the team radio, audibly shocked as the cars collided.

Ultimately, Russell was able to claim fourth, but the collision continued to echo in post-race interviews and on social media.

As the analysis began, 2016 World Champion and Sky F1 commentator Nico Rosberg weighed in with strong criticism.

Speaking immediately after the incident, Rosberg described Verstappen’s maneuver as intentional and said it should have been punished with a black flag, which would mean disqualification.

When pressed again after the race, Rosberg stood by his statements but also pointed out that the initial lap 61 contact had more to do with Russell misjudging the overtake.

Rosberg said Verstappen’s reaction looked like retaliation, something that he believes does not belong in Formula 1.

The stewards handed Verstappen a 10-second time penalty instead, which dropped him from fifth to tenth in the race results.

There was more drama involving Verstappen during the race.

He came under further investigation for a separate incident involving brief contact with Charles Leclerc after the safety car restart.

The rivalry between Verstappen and Russell has been tense over recent seasons, with both drivers having on-track disagreements in previous events, including a notable clash in Qatar last year.

George Russell, clearly surprised by Verstappen’s actions, likened the collision to something from a video game and shared that he didn’t expect to see such a move at this level.

He acknowledged Verstappen’s reputation as one of the best on the grid but argued that the risk taken in the incident made little sense considering championship points were at stake.

Oscar Piastri went on to claim victory from pole position, leading a McLaren one-two finish as Lando Norris took second and Charles Leclerc rounded out the top three.

Verstappen’s penalty and investigation added an extra layer of controversy to an already dramatic Spanish Grand Prix.

With further steward reviews pending, reactions from teams and drivers continue to shape the fallout from the race and set the stage for the next rounds of the season.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.