Red Bull Denies Verstappen Intentional Crash Claims After Spanish GP Penalty

Max Verstappen's collision with George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix sparked controversy and conspiracy theories suggesting the move was deliberate to trigger an exit clause in his Red Bull contract. Former driver and pundit Ralf Schumacher speculated that Verstappen may have intentionally sabotaged his race to activate a clause allowing him to leave Red Bull if he falls below third in the standings. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner vehemently denied these claims, calling them 'utter nonsense' and emphasizing Verstappen's competitive nature. Verstappen received a 10-second penalty for the incident, dropping him from fifth to tenth and leaving him with only one point on his super license, bringing him close to a potential race ban. Verstappen himself acknowledged his frustration and apologized for the move in a team debrief and on Instagram but stopped short of a direct apology to Russell. The incident has intensified tensions within Formula 1, with figures like Mercedes boss Toto Wolff calling the collision 'road rage' and other drivers criticizing Verstappen's conduct as unprofessional.