Verstappen Still frustrated Over Red Bull Call, But Backs ‘Sorry’ to Russell

George Russell was surprised: Max Verstappen openly apologized for the clash with the British driver during the Spanish Grand Prix. For the Red Bull Racing driver himself, saying sorry was less strange, as Motorsport.com quotes Verstappen during the press moment.

"I just gave my opinion on how I see things and how the race went in that statement. It was obviously not ideal for me, but well, that was my statement. After that, I just enjoyed my day again," says the Dutchman, in what was a press moment full of questions about that one moment at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, and its aftermath.

When Verstappen is then faced with the suggestion that his apologies differ from what he immediately declared after the race, he says: "Well, I didn't say much after the race at all. But I have been penalized for it, and I think that says enough."

To some observers, there's a perception that Verstappen struggles to apologize. But admitting his mistake is no problem for him. "No, that's not difficult. You always reflect on a race, even after a good race. So no, that's not difficult at all. Everyone makes mistakes in life and everyone learns from them. After that, you just have to move on," concludes Verstappen.

That Verstappen went too far was partly driven by pent-up frustration after a call from his team. Red Bull directed Verstappen to yield his position to George Russell. Reflecting back, Verstappen says: "It's hard to say how and what, but it was also about the whole communication - with yielding the position, while I immediately felt it wouldn't be right."

"If you look at the onboard footage, that should have been clear to the team already. We should have just continued. But well, I received that other call naturally. The whole end of that race was very frustrating, while it had been a good race up to that point. Many things were just frustrating," concludes Verstappen.