The outdated adage of ‘if you have not received something good to say, do not say something in any respect’ has by no means actually been adhered to inside Components 1 – and now George Russell and Max Verstappen are completely happy to air their soiled laundry in public after their falling out on the Qatar Grand Prix.
Verstappen was apoplectic final weekend when he was handed a one-place grid penalty for slowing down in entrance of Russell’s Mercedes throughout qualifying – regardless that neither driver was on a sizzling lap on the time.
With Verstappen having sealed pole, the Purple Bull driver was hauled in entrance of the stewards the place he and Russell fought their nook and the Dutchman was in the end punished, with Russell the person transferring onto pole place in consequence.
Having gained the drivers’ championship per week earlier, Verstappen was nonetheless capable of take victory in Qatar earlier than hitting out at Russell’s behaviour through the stewards’ enquiry.
It’s value noting the pair have earlier, a coming collectively within the dash race at Baku in 2023 led to a heated trade of phrases, and there was additionally contact between the duo on the Italian Grand Prix earlier this season.
The problem in Qatar, nonetheless, has ratcheted up the strain within the relationship because the pair criticised each other brazenly through the media day for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as Motorsport.com lays out the timeline of how a day of ill-will unfolded.
Pole man Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing, and George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Workforce, discuss in Parc Ferme
Photograph by: Dom Romney / Motorsport Pictures
Qatar rant
Issues actually turned bitter after Verstappen was slapped with a one-place demotion by the stewards – however it was Russell’s actions that seemingly riled the four-time world champion over the very fact he was hit with the penalty, a call which appeared to depart Verstappen extra perplexed than indignant.
“I could not consider that I received it. However in a approach I used to be additionally not stunned anymore on this planet that I reside in. I am not pleased with it, however at one level or one other it’s a must to simply flip the web page,” he mentioned.
“It was clear-cut that round me there have been totally different situations happening as effectively, with individuals having colder tyres and stuff, so that they should push anyway. I did not wish to then trigger a scene into the final nook and for no one to have a lap.
“I used to be fairly stunned, when sitting there within the stewards’ room, what was all happening. It was actually very disappointing, as a result of I believe all of us right here, we respect one another loads.
“I have been in that assembly room many instances in my life and my profession with folks that I’ve raced. And I’ve by no means seen somebody attempting to screw somebody over that arduous. For me, I misplaced all respect.”
Talking after dropping out to Verstappen within the race, Russell mentioned he had been “anticipating a crash” because the Purple Bull man aimed for victory.
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing, through the Press Convention
Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Pictures
Verstappen doubles down in Abu Dhabi
Driver press conferences on the Thursday of a race weekend can typically be fairly boring affairs, with these chosen to take questions from the world’s media typically selecting to stay tight-lipped.
That has by no means been the case with Verstappen, who was handed group service having sworn throughout a press convention on the Singapore Grand Prix earlier this season, resulting in him providing up monosyllabic solutions for the rest of the weekend.
It might have come as no shock to anybody current within the media centre on the Yas Marina Circuit, then, that Verstappen was as soon as once more greater than prepared to talk out concerning the perceived slight from Russell throughout their time with the stewards in Qatar and outright accused the Mercedes driver of mendacity within the assembly.
“It is nothing to do with him being the director of the GPDA,” he mentioned when pushed on the matter by Motorsport.com.
“I simply by no means anticipated somebody to essentially attempt to actively get somebody a penalty that badly and mendacity about why I used to be doing what I used to be doing. However clearly it had an affect on [the stewards]. It was simply actually not good and truly very stunning what was happening there.”
On whether or not he wished he had not spoken so brazenly concerning the incident in Qatar, Verstappen was unequivocal in his response: “No, no regrets in any respect.
“As a result of I meant the whole lot I mentioned and it is nonetheless the identical. If I needed to do it once more, possibly I’d have mentioned much more, figuring out the end result of the race consequence.
Franco Colapinto, Williams Racing, with Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing, and Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Workforce, through the Press Convention
Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Pictures
“I nonetheless cannot consider that somebody may be like that within the stewards’ room. For me, that was so unacceptable, as a result of we’re all racing drivers. All of us have a number of respect for one another. We even play sports activities collectively, you journey collectively.
“And naturally, you have got moments the place you get collectively, you crash, or no matter, you are not completely happy. In my entire profession, I’ve by no means skilled what I’ve skilled within the stewards’ room in Qatar. And for me, that was actually unacceptable.”
Purple Bull staff principal Christian Horner additionally weighed in on the scenario and mentioned Russell had been “hysterical” in Qatar.
Russell’s earlier retort
Though there have been no feedback from Russell earlier than Verstappen appeared within the press convention, the Brit had already spoken to a choose variety of media shops – together with Motorsport.com – earlier within the day.
The quotes from the session have been embargoed till 1600 native time, that means they have been printed after Verstappen had spoken out, regardless of the interview happening earlier than the media session in entrance of the tv cameras.
Russell was subsequently responding to what Verstappen had challenged him on in Qatar and didn’t again down when requested for his personal tackle what occurred.
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Workforce
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Pictures
“I discover all of it fairly ironic, contemplating Saturday night time he mentioned he’ll purposely exit of his approach to crash into me and, quote, “put me on my f****** head within the wall.”
“To query any individual’s integrity as an individual, whereas saying feedback like that the day earlier than, I discover it very ironic, and I am not going to take a seat right here and settle for it.
“Individuals have been bullied by Max for years now, and you may’t query his driving skills. However he can’t cope with adversity each time something has gone in opposition to him.
“Jeddah ’21, Brazil ’21, he lashes out. Budapest this yr, very first race, the automotive wasn’t dominant, crashing into Lewis, slamming his staff.
“As I mentioned, for me, these feedback on Saturday night time and Sunday have been completely disrespectful and pointless, as a result of what occurs on observe, we struggle laborious. It is a part of racing. What occurs within the steward’s room? You struggle laborious, however it’s by no means private. However you understand, he is taking it too far now.”
Russell and Wolff chunk again
Having little question seen Verstappen’s feedback made to the reside press convention simply hours earlier, Russell’s full media session in Abu Dhabi allowed him to as soon as once more converse on the matter as he addressed earlier run-ins for the world champion.
“I believe he has been enabled as a result of no one has stood as much as him, Lewis stood as much as him in 2021, and Lewis misplaced that championship unfairly, may you think about the roles being reversed and Max dropping that championship and the way by which Lewis misplaced that championship? [Michael] Masi could be fearing for his life,” he mentioned.
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Workforce, Toto Wolff, Workforce Principal and CEO, Mercedes-AMG F1 Workforce on the media spherical desk
Photograph by: Ronald Vording
“I’m not trying to get Max penalised and I’m not searching for any repercussions from this. I’m standing up for myself for a man who’s popping out questioning my integrity as an individual, slamming me within the press and I simply wish to set the report straight.
“As I mentioned, everyone is entitled to their very own opinion however for me, he crossed a line on the weekend and that was an excessive amount of.
“It is the identical approach as Max the very subsequent day, requested his staff to take a look at Lando’s penalty by means of the yellow flag. That is not private Max to Lando, that is simply racing. And I don’t see why he felt the necessity for this private assault. And I am not going to take it.”
As Russell carried out his session, Mercedes staff boss Toto Wolff moved to the entrance of the room to deal with the media and took a tin opener to the can of worms that has been festering between himself and Horner for years: “Why does he really feel entitled to remark about my driver? How does that come? Yapping little terrier. At all times one thing to say.
“There’s a factor between drivers, that is George and Max, and I do not wish to get entangled in that but when the opposite staff principal calls George hysteric that is when he crosses a line for me. He isn’t into mental psychoanalysis however that’s fairly a phrase. How dare you touch upon the way of thinking of my driver.”
Verstappen’s Dutch session
As is customized, Verstappen’s media day was rounded out by a huddle with the Dutch journalists inside the F1 paddock.
With the ultimate alternative to strike within the tit-for-tat battle, Verstappen instructed there was now no approach to rebuild his relationship with Russell: “He is a backstabber. It would not matter to me. You do not have to speak an excessive amount of about individuals like that, they’re simply losers.
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing RB20 battles with George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15
Photograph by: Andrew Ferraro
“We had the final giggle, as a result of ultimately we gained that race. They could have began on pole due to their nitpicking on the stewards, however 300 metres later they have been behind us once more. I am unable to do something about that both.”
Requested if his relationship with Russell was repairable, Verstappen replied: “No, however that does not matter. We do not have to be greatest pals. That is not why I am right here, to be greatest pals with him.
“That is not my objective within the paddock, so I do not care that a lot about it…particularly if somebody acts like that in the direction of you in entrance of the stewards. I am completed with him for some time.”
What occurs subsequent is anybody’s guess, however on this planet of F1 there could be no shock if the 2 find yourself sharing the identical piece of observe over the course of the weekend.
Photographs from Abu Dhabi GP Thursday
On this article
Mark Mann-Bryans
Components 1
Max Verstappen
George Russell
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