Tydd St Giles driver George Russell collects fourth place at the Spanish GP despite controversy with Max Verstappen

George Russell delivered a resilient performance at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, securing a commendable fourth-place finish amidst a race filled with drama and controversy.

Starting from fourth on the grid, the Tydd St Giles driver executed a brilliant launch, overtaking both Max Verstappen and Lando Norris to seize the lead into turn one - a move he later attributed to inspiration from Fernando Alonso’s iconic 2011 start at the same circuit.

Despite his early lead, Russell couldn’t maintain the front position for long, as Verstappen reclaimed it by lap three.

Throughout the race, the Fenland ace managed his tyres effectively, navigating through a two-stop strategy that included a stint on the hard compound tyres.

His consistent pace kept him in contention, and he capitalised on late-race incidents to secure his finishing position.

A pivotal moment occurred during a safety car restart triggered by teammate Kimi Antonelli’s off-track excursion. In the ensuing chaos, Verstappen collided with Russell in what appeared to be a deliberate move.

The race stewards deemed Verstappen at fault, issuing a ten-second penalty and adding three penalty points to his super licence, bringing him perilously close to a race ban.

This penalty demoted Verstappen from fifth to tenth, allowing Russell to retain fourth place.

Post-race, Russell expressed his disappointment, stating that the collision felt intentional and was uncharacteristic of a driver of Verstappen’s calibre.

The incident overshadowed an otherwise strong performance by Russell, who demonstrated both skill and composure throughout the race.

Russell’s fourth-place finish adds valuable points to Mercedes’ constructors’ championship campaign, as the team continues to develop the W16 and close the gap to frontrunners McLaren and Ferrari.

His performance in Spain underscores his growing stature within the team and the sport.