Nico Rosberg calls for black flag for Verstappen after controversial collision with Russell at Spanish GP

A collision under high tension. On June 1, 2025, at the Barcelona circuit, the race was marked by an incident between Max Verstappen and George Russell. After a restart following a safety car, Verstappen, struggling with his hard tires, was overtaken by Leclerc. Shortly after, Verstappen hit the back of Russell’s Mercedes after being instructed to give the place back to the Briton, an action Rosberg described as “totally unacceptable.”

“He crashed into him head-on,” said Rosberg, adding that Verstappen’s behavior was “horrible” and deserved an immediate exclusion from the race.

A sanction deemed insufficient

The race stewards handed Verstappen a ten-second penalty for his collision with Russell, dropping him from fifth to tenth place. This decision was criticized by several observers, who felt it did not reflect the severity of the incident.

George Russell himself expressed his dissatisfaction, suggesting that Verstappen’s maneuver seemed deliberate and inappropriate for a driver of his caliber.

The black flag: a rare penalty

The black flag, signifying the immediate disqualification of a driver, is rarely used in Formula 1. The last instance dates back to 2024, when Nico Hülkenberg was excluded from the São Paulo Grand Prix for receiving outside assistance to get his car back on track.

Rosberg emphasized that Verstappen’s behavior justified such a sanction, reminding that safety on the track must remain an absolute priority.

A race dominated by McLaren

Despite this controversy, the race was won by Oscar Piastri, followed by his teammate Lando Norris, giving McLaren a resounding one-two finish. Charles Leclerc completed the podium for Ferrari. Verstappen, on the other hand, finished tenth, a position that reflects his struggles during this Grand Prix and the consequences of his penalty.