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2025 Reimagined: What if… Max Verstappen did not drive into George Russell

Dutchman Verstappen spent much of the 2025 season proving he belonged in the category of the greats.

3 min readDec 26, 2025 08:44 PM IST

At the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona in June, Verstappen clashed twice with the Mercedes of George Russell. (PHOTO: AP)

Like many greats of Formula One, Max Verstappen is prone to fits of red mist. At times, it can be petulant and self-defeating.

The Dutchman spent much of the 2025 season proving he belonged in the category of the greats. In the latter half of the year, he put on fierce and relentlessly quick drives despite being in considerably inferior machinery to the two McLarens, eventually falling just short of completing what would have surely been one of the greatest comebacks in motorsport. Battling his car and backroom upheaval in his team, Verstappen was more than 100 points behind in the championship race as late as August before ending the season just two points behind eventual champion Lando Norris.

But the narrow point deficit that came in between Verstappen and a fifth successive world title – which would have made him the only driver other than Michael Schumacher to complete the feat – may well have been that regrettable red mist.

At the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona in June, Verstappen clashed twice with the Mercedes of George Russell after a safety car restart. The first was a result of the Dutchman trying his best on less grippy hard tyres to defend a place, and having been adjudged to have caused a crash, told to hand the place to Russell. After feeling hard done by, he deliberately drove into Russell, at low speeds, out of anger. The second incident gave him a 10-second time penalty that took his race finishing position from fifth to 10th, resulting in a loss of nine championship points.

Verstappen later admitted the crash was irresponsible and apologised. But he was incensed when asked by reporters in December if there was more regret considering he got so close to the title. He instead pointed out, rightly so, that his being in the title race itself was immensely fortunate. One of the McLaren drivers would have sealed the title far earlier had the team not made so many strategy and setup errors for the Dutchman to take advantage of.

His achievement in causing a triple-digit point swing – going from an 80/1 contender according to the bookmakers to nearly champion – deserves the heaps of high praise it has received. But victory would have made the story of his season a legend; those nine points now seem costlier than ever.

Namit Kumar

Namit Kumar is a Senior Sports Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. He is known for his versatile reporting across several major sports disciplines. Professional Profile Specializations: He covers a wide variety of sports including tennis, football, cricket, and motorsports. Focus: His writing often delves into the finer details and technical analysis of the sports he covers. Social Media: You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @namitkumar_17. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Namit’s recent work focuses heavily on international cricket series and domestic tournaments, as well as high-profile global tennis events: International Cricket (India vs South Africa Series): "Intelligence, skill, and heart: How Arshdeep Singh took out Reeza Hendricks" (Dec 15, 2025) — A detailed analysis of Arshdeep's tactical comeback in the T20I series. "How India's seamers froze South Africa in chilly Dharamshala" (Dec 14, 2025). "Why India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill losing form, is the start of a blunt headache" (Dec 12, 2025) — An analytical piece on the statistics and form of India's leadership duo. "Quinton de Kock dismantles Indian bowling combination with silent savagery" (Dec 11, 2025). Domestic Cricket (Ranji Trophy): "Ranji Trophy: J&K conquer Kotla and Delhi for first time" (Nov 11, 2025) — Reporting on the historic first win for Jammu & Kashmir over Delhi in the tournament's history. "What makes J&K pacer Auqib Nabi special" (Nov 8, 2025) — A profile on the pacer's accuracy and swing. "Unearthing the next Virat Kohli still a while away but Delhi's young batting talent full of promise" (Oct 24, 2025). Tennis and Golf: "Jannik Sinner's winter-time madness: How Italian refined his game to beat Alcaraz" (Nov 17, 2025) — A deep dive into Sinner’s technical improvements following his US Open loss. "Everyone's come to watch Rory McIlroy but keep an eye out for 'people's champion' Tommy Fleetwood" (Oct 17, 2025). Football Tactics: "Why are long throw-ins giving football defenders and lawmakers a headache?" (Nov 2, 2025) — An analytical piece on the evolving strategies surrounding throw-ins in modern football. Reporting Style Namit is active in covering the Delhi sports scene, providing detailed match reports for international cricket matches and Ranji Trophy fixtures at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. He also provides on-the-ground reporting for happenings in the city, such as his recent coverage of the DP World India Championship golf event. Additionally, he actively writes on tennis, analysing matches and reporting on major events, especially during the Grand Slam tournaments. ... Read More