The race was overshadowed by a contentious incident involving Max Verstappen. After being instructed by his team to let Russell pass, Verstappen initially complied but then made contact with Russell at Turn 5, leading to a 10-second penalty and two Super License points. This penalty brings Verstappen close to a race ban, as he now has 11 penalty points within a 12-month period. Former world champion Nico Rosberg criticized the move as deliberate and unsportsmanlike, suggesting a black flag should have been issued.