The world of Formula 1 is once again in turmoil following the controversial collision between Max Verstappen and George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix on June 1, 2025. New images of Verstappen on board have brought the discussion about the incident to the fore, and now Kelly Piquet, Verstappen’s girlfriend, has weighed in with a cryptic statement: “Her comment, posted on Instagram on June 5, 2025, follows the release of images that suggest Verstappen did not intentionally collide with Russell, as initially assumed. The FIA is now considering reviewing Verstappen’s severe punishment – a ten-second time penalty and three penalty points on his super license, which further heightens the tension surrounding this incident.
The incident occurred in the closing stages of the race in Barcelona when a late Safety Car overturned. Verstappen, who appeared to be on course for third place, was left on hard tyres which he said offered “no grip”. Following a collision with Charles Leclerc at the first corner, Verstappen was instructed by his engineer Gianpiero Lambian to hand his position back to Russell, who had previously collided with him. Although the FIA later ruled that this was not necessary, Verstappen’s frustration led to a collision at Turn 5. The stewards labelled the action as intentional, resulting in a penalty that demoted Verstappen from P5 to P10, losing him 24 points to championship leader Oscar Piastri.
However, onboard footage shared by @f1bigdata on X shows a different perspective. Verstappen appears to be heading through the corner normally, without making a clear move on Russell, who followed the racing line and cut the corner sharply. “Max did nothing wrong,” wrote one fan on X, and Kelly Piquet appears to share this view. Her message, “It’s time to tell the truth,” posted alongside a photo of Verstappen in his Red Bull, is seen as a plea to reconsider the penalty. While Piquet did not elaborate, his statement, which went viral with thousands of likes and reactions, has strengthened public support for Verstappen. Fans on X, such as @henwestra, have stressed that Russell may have been responsible for the contact through his aggressive line.
The FIA’s announcement on 6 June 2025 to review the penalty comes amid growing criticism of stewards’ inconsistency. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner called the original decision a “capital error of estimation”, particularly as Verstappen did not have to give back his position. Former driver Ralf Schumacher backed Verstappen on the Backstage pit lane podcast , arguing that the penalty was too harsh and that Verstappen was dragged down by frustration over his tyre choice. Conversely, critics such as Nico Rosberg and Damon Hill maintain that Verstappen was going too far, although Hill admitted to X that the action appeared “ill-judged” rather than deliberate.
The review of the penalty is crucial for Verstappen, who is balancing his licence on the brink of a suspension with 11 penalty points. A race ban would seriously damage his 2025 title chances, especially with McLaren’s dominant performance. Verstappen himself admitted in a statement on June 2 that the collision “shouldn’t have happened” and highlighted the emotions that influenced the tyre choice and the Safety Car. His modest reaction contrasts with the fierce comments from Russell, who, according to @fiaasteward on X, is now being investigated for a swearing match following the incident, which could lead to a three-race ban.
Kelly Piquet’s statement not only fueled the debate over the collision, but also drew attention to the wider dynamics of Formula 1. While the FIA reconsiders its decision, the rivalry between Verstappen and Russell remains a hot topic. With the Canadian Grand Prix on June 13, fans are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the review and/or whether Piquet’s plea for “the truth” will influence the FIA’s final judgement. For now, Verstappen remains determined, but the pressure from both public opinion and the FIA continues to be felt in this tumultuous season.
