Max Verstappen faces an uphill battle to avoid a race ban as he’ll need to navigate a clean Canadian and Austrian Grands Prix

Did Max Verstappen purposely run into George Russell near the end of the Spanish Grand Prix? The Mercedes driver certainly feels that way. Verstappen and Russell made contact as Russell went for a pass on Verstappen for fourth late in the race won by Oscar Piastri.

But what came after has him on the cusp of a one-race penalty ban. Following a late-stage restart Verstappen and Russell battled into the first turn in Barcelona. Red Bull instructed Verstappen to give a place back to the Mercedes driver,