George Russell has launched a scathing assault on Max Verstappen following the world champion’s criticism of his conduct within the stewards’ room in Qatar.
Verstappen stated he misplaced all respect for Russell as a result of, “I’ve by no means seen somebody attempting to screw somebody over that tough,” after the Dutchman obtained a one-place grid penalty for driving too slowly in qualifying. Verstappen made even stronger feedback to Dutch tv post-race, however Russell claims the four-time world champion then threatened to deliberately take him out of the race.
“I discover all of it fairly ironic seeing as Saturday night time he stated he was going to purposefully exit of his option to crash into me and ‘put me on my f****** head within the wall,’” Russell instructed choose media together with RACER. “So, to query someone’s integrity as an individual, whereas saying feedback like that the day earlier than, I discover could be very ironic, and I’m not going to sit down right here and settle for it.
“Individuals have been bullied by Max for years now, and you’ll’t query his driving talents. However he can’t take care of adversity. At any time when something has gone towards him — Jeddah ’21, Brazil ’21 — he lashes out. Budapest this yr, the very first race the automotive wasn’t dominant, crashing into Lewis [Hamilton], slamming his staff…
“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 battle exhausting, that’s a part of racing. What occurs within the stewards’ room, you battle exhausting, but it surely’s by no means private. However he’s taken it too far now.”
Totally recounting the interplay between the 2, Russell added: “[He said it] to me privately, straight out of the stewards. He stated, ‘I don’t know why you’d wish to screw me like this. I’m so disillusioned in you. I used to be going to not even race you tomorrow, I used to be going to allow you to by, however now if I’ve to, I’ll purposely exit of my option to put you in your f****** head within the wall.’ So I don’t perceive why he was so unnecessarily aggressive and violent in that regard.”
Whereas unaware of Russell’s newest response, Verstappen doubled down on his feedback from Qatar throughout an Abu Dhabi Grand Prix press convention. However past the verbal exchanges, the Mercedes driver says he additionally takes exception to the way in which Verstappen races.
“[I’m speaking out] as a result of he’s come out within the media, and I really feel has disrespected me as a driver,” stated Russell. “I’ve recognized him for 12 years, we’ve had respect with each other beforehand. We’ve by no means had any collisions. Within the junior classes, he was at all times one [year ahead] — Max is a yr older than me, so we solely crossed paths as soon as, 2011 however we by no means actually had any form of comings-together. However we’ve acquired a man who’s on the highest of this sport who feels he’s above the legislation, and I don’t suppose that’s proper.
“I like his on-track battles, and when he’s exhausting and aggressive. However what we noticed ultimately of the season in ’21 or what we noticed in Mexico with Lando [Norris], they weren’t exhausting, aggressive maneuvers. They have been, ‘Do or die –I’m prepared to take this man out.’ Which I don’t suppose is the way in which we must always go racing.
“I actually simply wish to set the file straight. As a result of it’s only a complete double normal that he has for the rules, and simply considering that he’s above all people else.
“So it’s not me attempting to claim my management fashion or something. It’s simply someone has come out and stated that I’m a two-faced motherf****r, and he’s entitled to his personal opinions however popping out and saying that publicly, and slamming me publicly, I’m simply not going to just accept it, and I’m going to inform folks what the fact was.
“He pushes himself to absolutely the restrict week in, week out, and in 95 % of the eventualities, that’s unimaginable to see, and I respect him for that 95 %. However there have been incidents which have gone unpunished. Perhaps that’s the reason he thinks he can get away with homicide. However that isn’t the world we dwell in, and actions have penalties.”
Russell additionally says he misplaced respect for the way in which Verstappen has dealt with adversity at occasions this season, once more citing the Hungarian Grand Prix the place the Purple Bull driver was extraordinarily vocal on staff radio.
“It may’t simply hold happening like that. For me, it’s fascinating, this entire regard with him and his personal staff,” he stated. “They’re doing their utmost to get [Christian] Horner out of Purple Bull, however on the very first race that he wasn’t aggressive, he was completely slamming his staff, and I do know for a reality the week after, 1 / 4 of his engineering staff have been sending their CVs to Mercedes, to McLaren, to Aston.
“So I don’t respect someone who doesn’t admire those that have given him the possibility to carry out, as a result of these final 12 races, he has had a automotive that’s of regular competitiveness, and he’s been within the battle the identical manner as myself, Lewis, Charles [Leclerc], Carlos [Sainz], Lando and [Oscar] Piastri have been. And that’s the way it needs to be.
“I really feel like all of us want to guide by instance right here. He’s the most important, most profitable man within the sport for the final couple of years. He can do what he needs in his personal enterprise, however when he begins throwing feedback round like he did on Sunday night time about me, I’m not simply going to sit down there and settle for it.”
