Verstappen Slams Race Ban Talk as ‘Childish’ Ahead of Canadian GP

Verstappen Calls Race Ban Questions ‘Childish’ Before Canadian GP

Max Verstappen hit back at journalists ahead of the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix, describing repeated questions about a possible race ban as “childish” and saying Formula 1 was becoming “annoying” to deal with.

The Red Bull driver, who starts second on the grid behind George Russell, is under intense scrutiny following a controversial incident in Spain, where he was penalised for deliberately colliding with Russell. The resulting penalty puts Verstappen one licence point away from a race ban.

“I don’t need to hear it again. You were speaking about it on Thursday,” said Verstappen. “It’s such a waste of time. It’s very childish.”

Despite the criticism, Verstappen remains defiant, insisting:

“I’m just going to race like I always do. I trust myself. I cannot just back out of everything.”

Tense Rivalry with Russell Continues

The battle between Verstappen and Russell has become one of the season’s most heated rivalries. After joking about his own clean record, Russell quipped:

“We’re mates, so it’s all good. I have a few more points on my licence to play with – so let’s see.”

The pair have a long history of on- and off-track friction, including public spats in Qatar 2023, Baku 2023, and last week’s collision in Barcelona.

Russell Takes Pole with ‘Exhilarating’ Lap

Max Verstappen congratulates George Russell after qualifying in Montreal

George Russell secured his first pole of 2025 in dramatic fashion, outpacing Verstappen by 0.160 seconds. The Mercedes driver described his final qualifying lap as:

“One of the most exhilarating laps of my life. I had goosebumps crossing the line.”

Russell is determined to make up for a poor race in Canada last year, where he failed to convert pole into a win.

However, he remains cautious about race-day conditions:

“It was cooler on Friday when our pace looked strong. If it’s warmer on Sunday, things could change dramatically.”

McLaren Struggle in Low-Grip Montreal Conditions

Oscar Piastri starts from P3, while Lando Norris could only manage P7, blaming both driver errors and a low-grip track that exposed McLaren’s limitations.

“It’s just very low grip,” Norris said. “The car balance never really came together. We made mistakes in Q3 and didn’t get the lap we needed.”

Norris tested a revised front suspension layout, but said it was too early to judge its effectiveness. Piastri opted for the standard setup, with McLaren boss Andrea Stella confirming both configurations remain viable.

“From Lando’s point of view, there were no downsides,” Stella said. “It might come down to personal preference.”

Canadian Grand Prix Quick Facts

• Race Start: Sunday, 15 June at 19:00 BST

• Venue: Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal

• Coverage: Live on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sport website/app

• Front Row: George Russell (Pole), Max Verstappen (P2)