George Russell has slammed Max Verstappen’s criticisms of him as bullying ways, after revealing the world champion threatened to “put me on my f*****g head within the wall” in Qatar.
Verstappen spoke out in opposition to Russell after final weekend’s race in Losail, saying he had misplaced all respect for the Briton for the way in which he behaved in a stewards’ listening to that resulted in him shedding pole place for impeding.
Talking in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, the Dutchman doubled down on what he stated, saying it was “stunning” what Russell did in making an attempt to get him a penalty.
However Russell has not taken Verstappen’s feedback calmly and stated he won’t settle for remarks that he thinks are ‘disrespectful and pointless’ contemplating how he had been personally threatened final weekend.
Talking to chose media together with Motorsport.com, Russell stated: “I discover all of it fairly ironic, contemplating Saturday evening he stated he will purposely exit of his technique to crash into me and, quote, ‘put me on my f***ing 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 sit down 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 not take care of 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 workforce.
Pole man Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Workforce, discuss in Parc Ferme
Photograph by: Dom Romney / Motorsport Pictures
“As I stated, for me, these feedback on Saturday evening and Sunday had been completely disrespectful and pointless, as a result of what occurs on monitor, we combat onerous. It is a part of racing.
“What occurs within the steward’s room? You combat onerous, but it surely’s by no means private. However you recognize, he is taking it too far now.”
Russell stated he had little interest in discussing issues with Verstappen, as he questioned why different drivers haven’t been keen to talk out in regards to the Dutchman’s ways.
“I simply do not know why different drivers have once they’ve been on this battle with him, simply kind of made it really easy and simply let or not it’s,” added Russell.
“Lewis is a world champion who I aspire to be like, and I believe he’s a gold commonplace of a job mannequin that youthful children must be trying as much as.
“And the way in which Lewis handled that championship combat, he was onerous, he was aggressive, he was at all times respectful, and he by no means went past the road.
“You possibly can transcend the road in making a slight misjudgement, however going out of your technique to say you’ll purposefully crash into any individual and put them on their head is past the road.”
Requested why he had chosen to talk out now, Russell stated: “As a result of he is come out within the media. I really feel he has disrespected me as a driver.
“I’ve recognized him for 12 years. We have had respect with each other beforehand. We have by no means had any collisions….however we have a man who’s on the highest of this sport and who feels he is above the legislation. I do not assume that is proper.
“I like his on-track battles, and when he’s onerous and aggressive. However what we noticed on the finish of the season in ’21, or what we noticed in Mexico with Lando [Norris], they weren’t onerous, aggressive manoeuvres. They had been do or die: ‘I am keen to take this man out.’ Which I do not assume is the way in which we must always go racing.”
Images from Abu Dhabi GP Thursday
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Jonathan Noble
System 1
Max Verstappen
George Russell
Pink Bull Racing
Mercedes
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