Tensions between Max Verstappen and Mercedes rival George Russell are coming to a head ahead of the season finale. Russell makes vehement accusations, the world champion accuses the Brit of lying.
06.12.2024, 08:33
06.12.2024, 09:47
SDA
George Russell told several media outlets ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi on Sunday that Max Verstappen had threatened to "deliberately drive into me and put my head in the wall" before the race in Qatar last week.
The Mercedes driver was responding to comments made by the Dutchman in the race stewards' room after an incident during qualifying last week. Verstappen had lost his pole position in Lusail due to a penalty; he had obstructed Russell in qualifying.
"Sneaky and unacceptable"
After Verstappen won the race, he accused Russell of being underhand in an interview for Dutch television. This was triggered by Russell's demand for a penalty. "I have no regrets," Verstappen now said in Abu Dhabi. "Maybe I would say even more today." He still cannot believe "that someone can be like that," said the 27-year-old Dutchman at a press conference. "In my whole career, I have never experienced anything like that, for me it was unacceptable." He accused Russell of lying: "I didn't expect someone to be so active in trying to get someone else punished. That wasn't nice and was actually very shocking."
"Have been bullied by Max for years"
"There's nothing to lie about. Facts are facts," replied the Brit. "I don't know the reasons for his personal attack, because I have no problems with Max." In any case, Verstappen had now crossed a line with his words. "That was too much," said Russell. It was "pretty ironic" that Verstappen was questioning his integrity. "I'm not going to sit here and accept it."
The sixth-placed driver in the world championship continued: "People have been bullied by Max for years. You can't question his driving skills, but he can't deal with adversity. Whenever something goes against him, he lashes out," said Russell. "I've seen him like that since I was 14 years old in a kart."
"Yapping little terrier"
There was also a dispute at team boss level. After the race in Qatar, Red Bull boss Christian Horner suggested that Russell had been "hysterical" in the race stewards' meeting.
A comment that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff took issue with. "Why does he (Horner) feel entitled to make comments about my driver?" he asked on Thursday. "I have 90 seconds to think about it. Yapping little terrier. Always something to say."
