Verstappen received heavy criticism, but according to the former driver, it is also key to underline that the defending world champion apologised afterwards.

“First of all, about Max Verstappen you have to simply say: chapeau. He apologised, and I believe – we have said this before – if he apologises, then as far as we're concerned, it's settled, let's move on,” he began on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast of Sky Sports Germany.

However, he also warns of the consequences. Verstappen got three penalty points together with the 10-second penalty, so currently he has 11 points to his name in total.

“He has received his punishment, and it was quite severe. He can no longer afford mistakes, otherwise he must – just like Magnussen – sit out a race. That would obviously be tragic,” he continued.

Schumacher also saw a frustrated Verstappen, after he was asked by the team over the radio to give the position back to Russell. “Then Max became so frustrated – and that is somewhat understandable – because he probably thought at that moment: I have to fight with a blunt knife, now I get penalised, I have to give back a position, the championship is slipping from my grasp... And then he reacted even more sharply.”

Therefore, he believes Verstappen made a significant error, he concluded about the incident itself: “If you look at the whole incident again properly, then there indeed is something to criticise.”

On Monday, Verstappen apologised for the incident on Instagram. He wrote: "We had an exciting strategy and good race in Barcelona, till the safety car came out. Our tyre choice to the end and some moves after the safety car restart fuelled my frustration, leading to a move that was not right and shouldn’t have happened. I always give everything out there for the team and emotions can run high. You win some together, you lose some together. See you in Montreal."

Schumacher is also positive that an apology did arrive. “He needed some time, but ultimately, he did it, and that's the most important thing.”

According to the former Toyota and Williams driver, his father, Jos influenced his son. “From what I've heard, he said right away: come on, just do it. Max was initially a bit stubborn, but then he did it, and that shows character.”

“It's nice to see that the father-son relationship sometimes still helps. Fathers simply have more experience, they look at things differently. Maybe I would have felt the same 20 or 30 years ago,” he concluded.

On the other hand, not everyone was satisfied with Verstappen's apology. Mercedes-Benz Motosport's former Vice President, Norbert Haug saw that something was missing from the Dutchman's statement.