Outside Line: No black flag for Verstappen but...

Let’s be clear: what Verstappen did during the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix wasn’t right. The first fling with Russell was hard racing, just two guys scrapping. The reaction move, though – that was pure frustration. Red Mist to the Max. A double-tap message from a driver who felt aggrieved and decided to let his front wing do the talking.

It was ugly. And dangerous. But it was also understandable, as I said in the latest episode of 2 Soft Compounds podcast reviewing the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, of which Verstappen's actions on race day were the main talking point long after the sunset in Barcelona on Sunday.

The Leclerc lunge later in the race? Call it 50-50. Max was clearly driving with steam coming out of his ears. And I’ve said it before: an angry Max is a dangerous Max. That cuts both ways. It either makes him drive like an untouchable genius, or it makes him do what he did on Sunday – act out in frustration.

But credit where it’s due. A day later, he put his hand up. Said he was wrong. That doesn’t happen often – not in this sport, and certainly not from the greats. Senna, Schumacher, Prost, Alonso, Hamilton – none of them were in the habit of apologising. But Max did. That matters.

It’s why I think this isn’t the black-and-white slam dunk Rosberg and Herbert are making it out to be. It was a red-mist moment followed by a rare moment of humility. In today’s Formula 1, that’s worth something.

If he’d ruined George Russell’s race, then sure, disqualify him. But he didn’t. It was borderline. Uncomfortable to watch. But not enough for a black flag in my book. George himself said it best: "That’s how Max races." And we all tune in every GP Sunday because of that.

Still, the psychology is fascinating. The Max we saw in Spain was a driver under pressure. Not just in the car, but in the championship. He knows 2025 isn’t going to go his way. Either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri will be World Champion this year – and deep down, Max knows it. That’s eating him alive.

He thought Red Bull could still fight, but with no teammate and the wheels coming off the once ultraslick operation, that fifth title is increasingly elusive. He thought maybe McLaren would stumble. But they haven’t. And with the RB21 falling short on outright pace, Max is left muscling the car beyond its limits. Sometimes he gets away with it. Sometimes he doesn’t.

Barcelona took him to 11 penalty points on his F1 Super Licence. Twelve means a one-race ban. Two of those points expire at the end of June, but there are still two GPs before then. Verstappen is on a tightrope. Red Bull know it. One more silly outburst and they’ll lose their talisman for a weekend.

In closing, I still think he’s the greatest driver I’ve ever seen. What happened in Spain wasn’t pretty. But it was human. And it was Max. The brilliance and the madness are inseparable. Always have been. Always will be.