safety car

The world champion is one licence point away from a race ban as a result of deliberately hitting Russell's car as his race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya unravelled in the late stages after a safety car.

The second decision Red Bull got wrong, Horner admitted, was the decision to pit Verstappen for fresh hard tyres under the safety car, one that Verstappen immediately questioned vociferously once he was back on track.

Verstappen had been on course for a strong third place in Barcelona until the safety car was deployed late in the race.

Oscar Piastri led Lando Norris to a McLaren one-two at the Spanish Grand Prix as a late safety car led to a controversial final few laps involving Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

The four-time champion had kept the pressure on the McLarens with a three-stop strategy compared to their two, and was on course for third place before the safety car, caused when Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli pulled off with an engine failure.