Max Verstappen Upset as FIA Stays Silent on Red Bull Air Issue

Red Bull Racing has publicly shared their frustration following the events at the Spanish Grand Prix on June 2, 2025. Team principal Christian Horner questioned the response from the FIA and race director Rui Marques after Max Verstappen’s controversial run-in with Mercedes driver George Russell during the safety car restart in Barcelona.

Verstappen, fresh from a pit stop that put him at a disadvantage with hard tyres, already felt cornered as others around switched to softer compounds. At the restart, Verstappen was hit by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on the main straight, sparking further drama as Russell launched a bold pass into Turn 1.

Verstappen left the track and rejoined ahead of Russell. Memories of the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, when Verstappen was penalized for not yielding to McLaren’s Lando Norris, influenced Red Bull’s rapid decision.

Fearing a repeat penalty, they instructed Verstappen to give the place back to Russell. Despite complying, Verstappen collided with Russell shortly after, resulting in a 10-second penalty for causing a collision.

This prompted more scrutiny from Red Bull. “He was obviously upset because, first of all, he had Leclerc take a swipe at him on the straight, and then he’s got dive bombed at Turn 1 by George,” Horner explained to RacingNews365 and other media.

“The way that these regulations are, it’s all about where that front axle is. The drivers know the rules, and they’re the rules that they’re playing to.” A key point of disagreement was whether Russell had control of his car during the maneuver.

After reviewing the footage, the stewards judged that Russell was not entitled to the corner and that Verstappen would not have received a penalty for not giving up his position. Horner argued that clearer and quicker input from the race director could have prevented confusion for both drivers and teams.

Horner also criticized the silence from the race director when teams ask for clarification during races. “You get nothing back,” he said, calling for discussions at the Sporting Advisory Committee to push for more transparent communications.

He believes it would help teams make real-time decisions if the FIA would directly state whether a driver should give a place back or face a penalty, instead of leaving teams to interpret historic rulings. The debate over the incident continued as fans and commentators weighed in.

On June 3, F1 enthusiasts delivered harsh disqualification verdicts for Verstappen online, and the incident remained a major talking point across media. As the dust settles, both Red Bull and Verstappen face renewed pressure, while FIA procedures for on-track communication are set for review.

With the F1 calendar moving quickly and Max Verstappen maintaining third place in the 2025 standings with 137 points, all eyes will now be on both the drivers and stewards at the upcoming races. Red Bull’s push for greater transparency in FIA rulings has added a fresh layer of intrigue as the championship race continues.

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.