Inside Schumacher’s Bold Claim: The Wild Verstappen Theory Explained
Jun.2 – Conspiracy theories are swirling after Max Verstappen’s “battering ram” move in Barcelona that ultimately left his championship hopes severely dented.
The Dutchman had gone into the Spanish GP amid swirling rumours that if he drops from P3 in the drivers’ standings by the end of June, an exit clause in his Red Bull contract could be triggered.
Verstappen was on course for P3 in Barcelona until the safety car, which left him with only uncompetitive hard-compound tyres. A sequence of events then unfolded before the world’s eyes that culminated in him apparently losing his cool and deliberately nerfing into George Russell.
Russell, who does not get along with his fellow 27-year-old, kept his response measured but concluded that Verstappen was perhaps not being a good role model for children.
“I’ll bring some tissues for him next time,” Verstappen hit back.
Amid calls for disqualification, the stewards ultimately decided to impose a 10-second penalty, which dropped the quadruple world champion to P10 – leaving him almost 50 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri.
Verstappen is also left with only 1 point remaining on his super license, meaning another indiscretion by the end of June will result in an automatic race ban.
“He used his car like a battering ram,” Alex Wurz, who along with Russell is a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, told ORF.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff found himself in an awkward position after the race – with Russell as the aggrieved party and also reportedly open to welcoming Verstappen to the team in 2026.
“If it was road rage, then it’s not good,” he said.
On Italian television Sky, the Austrian was even more blunt: “It was like certain taxi drivers in Rome or Naples, who go crazy in traffic.
“If he did it out of anger, it’s unacceptable.”
Some think Verstappen performed the move – letting Russell pull directly alongside before punting him off – was to demonstrate precisely what the British driver had done in turn 2 after the safety car ended.
“I have nothing to say,” Verstappen said when asked about that. “I was rightly penalised for that manoeuvre and I have nothing else to add.”
He did add, however, that he has no plans to talk to Russell about it. “In life, you shouldn’t regret too many things,” Verstappen insisted. “Because you only live once.”
Predictably, Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko defended his driver.
‘The emotions were running high during that whole situation,” he said. “This is part of racing.
“Honestly, I think the biggest problem we have is the driving standards and what is allowed and what is not, which is not very natural. And that is quite frustrating and that frustration was reflected in his driving style,” he added.
“I’d rather not go into more details.”
Dutch driver and personality Tom Coronel told Viaplay that he thinks Verstappen “won’t be too bothered” with losing points in Barcelona – given McLaren’s clear and ongoing dominance.
“‘I’m not going to win the championship anyway, so I’ll show my teeth now’,” he said, speculating on Verstappen’s mindset.
Verstappen confirmed: “I never said I was in the title fight. It certainly doesn’t feel that way.
“If McLaren does everything right, they’re unbeatable. I think that’s been pretty clear this season.”
Ralf Schumacher, meanwhile, floats a conspiracy theory – that Verstappen may have deliberately engineered the penalty to lose points and move himself closer to that rumoured contract exit clause.
“You have to pay close attention to why such things happen and why he would get an unnecessary penalty like that. We know about the clause,” he told Sky Deutschland.
“It’s a critical phase,” Schumacher added.
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Ralf’s theory is indeed bold but highly implausible.
Max does absolutely zero service for himself by not bothering to take full accountability for his actions & admitting to ramming into George on purpose, which was blatantly clear-cut because such a thing can’t happen accidentally in any case, especially as steering wheels are always turnable regardless of anything else, so doing something as simply as turning a steering wheel shouldn’t be too much to ask for a professional racing driver.
FIA should’ve had the guts to hand him at least four penalty points, if not more, & a 20-second time penalty equivalent to a drive-through on average, considering George received a drive-through for merely cutting a chicane without hitting anyone in the process.
Oh well, he won’t lose any penalty points until June 30 (unless he receives at least one more by that point) & even from that day onwards, his total will remain at 9 until October 27, so he’ll remain close to 12 until the day after the Mexico City GP if he remains penalty point-free throughout these remaining penalty point loss day intervals.
I am a big Max supporter but it was a rush of blood in that situation reacting to an order from the team to let George by, when there wasn’t any basis for that order. George was at fault in the contact between them and the stewards were not going to issue a penalty to Max.
He would have been better to ignore the the team order ,but in the heat of battle emotions can boil over, leading to that unacceptable behavior.
It doesn’t change my support of Max. Some if the things with that car make him the best driver out there.
Can you name outstanding drives by Piastri and Norris other than driving the best car.
I am an Aussie but I support Max as the best driver.
This sort of behaviour is common in narcissists. Entertaining as it is, people are often drawn to narcissists,he should not be driving race cars, it will end badly. His condition means he must have control and be superior, if he feels slighted it causes fury often directed at friends ie George and he will find it impossible to apologise. It unfortunately will only get worse over time. I believe it is incurable but treatable and almost certainly be caused by his upbringing.
Sorry a bit heavy!
In the heat of battle , you dont have friends, F1 isnt a nice sport, its full of egos, barstewards ,twisted opinions and lies,lies and more lies oh the media portray things like friendships in this tiktok/instagramm/woke friendly world blah blah blah , BUT Winning is all that matters, are you new to F1 by the way
No not remotely new to it and if you have to resort to cheating and open aggression in addition to the fastest car to win you haven’t won much worth having have you.
It doesn’t have to be like that,I have witnessed so many like Max in sport ,business and private life and they all end up lonely old men.
and quite a few drivers with multiple wdcs would disagree with you, history for the fans, remembers the winners not the nice guys, this new age trial by trial is not helpfull, when Seb slammed Lucy, i dont remember them calling for a Dsq, its whatever sells the newspapers and web space and everyones on the bandwagon like sheep, tomorrow everyone will be bleating about some other scandel,and F1 just moves on, but at least while Max is being attacked it gives the Dame pantyliner a break I suppose
What gives Rosberg the right to demand a disqualification for Max behaviour, when he was challenging sir Lulu at Mercedes he tried every trick in the book even threw his gloves at sir Lulu in the cool down room,, I remember he used to sulk like a baby who has lost his dummy & here he is calling for Max to be disqualified who in their right mind would listen to him & if F1 is going to be run by little boy wimps like G, Russel god help the sport.
Nico, mmmmm thats a name from the past i might just have re- release later this year, but back to Nico the Pundit/Commentators Claim, he knew exactly what he was saying by making that statement, that all the others would jump on it to fullfill there media roles and make there employers happy by increasing the click bait rate so thats your answer Donalf increase sky viewing figures and justify his salary, but like chip papers , itll soon be yesterdays news as the saying does , Nicoooo, ohhhh ohhh Nicoooo , your Red Taxi is here, Taxi for Mrs Hamilton
My advice to all F1 drivers is to overtake on the straights, make sure you can pass cleanly, don’t attempt to challenge him on any corners, give him a wide berth if they do that then there won’t be any problems, I’m not a racer but I’ve got common sence, mix it with Max at you own peril.
Won’t work Don, Max is just as happy pushing the others off on the straights if he can. Best not to race him at all or else give him a bloody nose.
Seriously, I don’t think he will be in F1 much longer. Unless he is provided with a winning car.
You could well be right Blo.
The thought that it’s just over has never visited anyone?
Not sure what you mean A less.
I think Alessander means , perhaps Maxes move wasnt as bad as people are saying?, if im correct, what an incisive thought that is..!
Welcome to this years one Man and his dog , this year sporting entries from flocks from all across the world hoping to catch a break in the competition
Think you need to go easy on the sherbet Stroppy
Sherbet fountains were never on my favourites list as a child , I preferred the much more palatable Red Bull range of confectionery and beverages, they help me remain focused and relaxed, however i do know one f1 driver who prefers the drink pink lady
I think I got what your getting at Shropp.
Im converting to Shroppspeak, its a variation on Ronspeak, also im retraining as a shepherd, by hook or by by crook
Good to have you onboard Donalf
Hook or crook, they’re both a bit bent. Flav will have to look out he looks a bit like s sheep and he’s definitely bent
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