Weeks after her heated interview with Max Verstappen in Spain, Sky Sports reporter Rachel Brookes was abused online. She turned off the comment section of her social media profile and received relentless hate.

The infamous conversation happened during the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix held in Barcelona on June 1. Verstappen received a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points for causing a collision with George Russell, which many believe was a deliberate attempt.

In a post-race interview, Rachel Brookes from Sky Sports asked Verstappen if his aggressive actions take ‘some shine off’ his racing craft. To this, the four-time world champion replied:

“Well, that’s your opinion.”

After the video of the interview went viral on social media, Brookes revealed that she received vile attacks online. Hence, she had to turn off the comment section of her Instagram and X accounts.

“I will be posting on here as usual, but comments/tags/mentions on here and on X have been disabled for the foreseeable future due to the enormous amounts of vile abuse I was sent after the Spanish GP.”

Meanwhile, fans supported Rachel Brookes and pinned the blame on Max Verstappen’s fan base for spreading toxicity.

“Max is starting to attract a cult-like fanbase who just blindly attack anyone who challenges or disagrees with their driver. I think it’s due to him being the most successful driver for the last 4 seasons because the Hamilton fanbase has/had the exact same problems,” a fan said.

“The Verstappen fan base is effective at throwing vile abuse on mass in a targeted way,” another user commented.

“Classic MV cultists,” a comment read.

However, a few fans also accused Brookes of being biased during the interview.

“Interview? She primarily expressed her own opinions,” a fan commented.

“Just don’t ask stupid questions,” a user said.

“Grow a spine. I am vilely abused by FIA bias,” another fan said.

Verstappen later admitted his fault in the accident with Russell and said it was a mistake committed in a flow of frustrating emotions.

George Russell reacts to Max Verstappen taking responsibility for the Barcelona crash

Despite being defiant in a post-race interview with Sky Sports’ Rachel Brookes, Max Verstappen admitted his fault in the collision with George Russell through an Instagram post. He wrote that the incident could have been avoided, but his frustration got the better of him.

Meanwhile, Russell was surprised to see Verstappen taking responsibility for the contract in Barcelona. Talking to Formula 1, the Brit said:

“I was a bit surprised to see he had taken responsibility, so fine. But I haven’t spoken to him about it. We actually bumped into each other at the airport the other day, but I actually completely forgot we crashed into each other a few days prior. No issues.”

While water may be under the bridge between George Russell and Max Verstappen, the incident could cost the latter a race ban. He got three penalty points added to his super license, taking his tally to 11. One more point could get him banned from a race.