ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Tensions between Mercedes driver George Russell and Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen have escalated following their recent clash at the Qatar Grand Prix. Russell has made serious accusations against Verstappen, alleging that the Red Bull driver displayed bullying and threatening behavior during their heated dispute.
Verstappen publicly expressed his disappointment last Sunday, stating that he has “lost all respect” for Russell after a qualifying incident that cost him the pole position for the race in Qatar. Russell, who has respected Verstappen for over a decade, voiced his frustration during a Sky Sports broadcast, declaring, “I’ve known Max for 12 years, and I’ve respected him all this time, but now I’ve lost respect for him because we’re all fighting on track and it’s never personal.” He accused Verstappen of making their rivalry personal, suggesting that it is time for someone to confront what he described as a bully.
Russell alleged that Verstappen even threatened to “purposefully crash” into him, calling this behavior “unacceptable” and an overstep of boundaries. He emphasized the necessity of standing up to such actions before they spiral further out of control. Additionally, Russell criticized how Verstappen conducts himself on the track, referencing past incidents where Verstappen faced penalties for aggressive racing tactics, including his run-ins with drivers like Lando Norris at this year’s Mexican Grand Prix and Lewis Hamilton in previous seasons.
“It seems that whenever things don’t go his way, he reacts with undue anger and borderline violence,” Russell remarked. “That is not a person I respect, and I wish he would be a better role model for the sport.”
In the Qatar qualifying round, Verstappen recorded the fastest time, but a stewards’ penalty for unnecessary slow driving on the racing line led to Russell moving up to claim the top position on the grid. Russell communicated his concerns over team radio, describing the situation as “super dangerous” as he attempted to navigate around a slow-moving Verstappen when neither was putting in a competitive lap time at that moment. Such grid penalties during qualifying are typically rare unless they directly affect results.
In response to the allegations on Thursday in Abu Dhabi, Verstappen maintained his stance, claiming that Russell had lied to provoke the penalty he received. “No regrets at all because I meant everything I said, and it remains the same,” Verstappen asserted. He expressed surprise at Russell’s relentless efforts to secure a penalty against him, suggesting it was shocking and disrespectful behavior that influenced the stewards’ decision.
Thus, as the season approaches its conclusion in Abu Dhabi, the feud between these two prominent drivers is only heating up, promising to carry over into future races if left unresolved.
