Max Verstappen handed penalty immediately after Barcelona Grand Prix as commentators call for disqualification

Formula One great Max Verstappen has been handed a huge penalty after causing a crash that could have seen him disqualified from the Spanish Grand Prix.

On Sunday, McLaren pair Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris extended their lead over their rivals after finishing first and second respectively in the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Although both drivers securing value points in the race is important for the championship, the most dramatic moment came in the closing laps as reigning champion Verstappen was handed a huge penalty.

Heading into lap 64th lap of the race, Verstappen was told to let former rival George Russell through, only for the Dutch driver to decide to hit into the Mercedes driver as he looked to overtake.

Immediately after the moment, Sky Sports commentator and former F1 champion Nico Rosberg called for the Red Bull star to be disqualified from the race.

However, moments later the FIA confirmed that they had decided to hand Verstappen a 10-second penalty because of the incident, meaning he finished the race in P10.

The result deals a huge blow to Verstappen's hopes of winning his fifth Formula One drivers' championship title in a row this year, extending the gap between him and current leader Piastri.

Immediately after the race, the 27-year-old was seen storming off the paddock to attend his post-race debrief with Red Bull.

Verstappen's frustrations started earlier in the race as young Mercedes star Kimi Antonelli came off the track on the 55th lap, leading to a safety car being deployed.

Due to the safety car, several cars, including both McLaren drivers and Verstappen, decided to come into the pits to change their tyres for the final part of the race.

However, while many cars decided to put on a set of soft tyres, Red Bull equipped Verstappen with a new set of hard tyres, much to the frustration of the F1 champion.

Although Red Bull later claimed that the hard tyres were the only option available to them, they ultimately cost Verstappen his place on the podium as Charles Leclerc and Russell were able to get past as their tyres had much more grip.

But it was Verstappen's decision to, seemingly intensionally, hit into Russell after being told to give the Mercedes driver the position, that ultimately led to his worst-ever finish in the Spanish Grand Prix.