George Russell has fiercely hit back at Max Verstappen following the F1 world champion's scathing remarks about him, declaring, “someone needs to stand up to a bully like this.” The latest development in the heated dispute between the two leading drivers comes after Verstappen’s comments following the Qatar Grand Prix. Russell, speaking publicly for the first time since Verstappen’s explosive remarks, detailed the fallout from the controversial grid penalty Verstappen received and accused the Red Bull driver of threatening to crash into him.
Verstappen's Grid Penalty Fallout
The row began after Verstappen was handed a one-place grid drop at the Qatar Grand Prix, which put Russell into pole position. After initially losing out to Russell at the start of the race, Verstappen went on to win, with Russell finishing in fourth. The two drivers were also involved in a controversial incident involving the stewards, which fueled further tension. Verstappen later made his frustrations clear, sparking a heated back-and-forth between the two.
Russell Accuses Verstappen of Threatening to Crash Into Him
Russell wasted no time in responding to Verstappen’s remarks at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Addressing the media on Thursday, he revealed that Verstappen had allegedly threatened to crash into him after the stewards' meeting. “What he was doing was pretty clear. He was going too slow. He was on the racing line and we all had the rules to follow and he didn’t follow it,” Russell explained to Sky Sports F1.
He went on to highlight Verstappen's behavior in their post-race discussions, accusing the Dutch driver of saying, “I’m going to purposely crash into you, I’m going to put you on your f****** head in the wall.” Russell condemned this as “unacceptable,” emphasizing that Verstappen had crossed a line. “He’s gone beyond the line here and I’m not going to accept it. So somebody’s got to stand up to a guy like this before it gets out of control,” Russell added.
Russell's Response and Loss of Respect
Russell, who has known Verstappen for 12 years, made it clear that he no longer respects the four-time world champion. “I’ve known Max for 12 years. I respected him all this time but now I have lost respect for him. We are all fighting on track and it’s never personal,” Russell explained. “Now he’s made it personal and someone needs to stand up to a bully like this – and so far people are letting him get away with murder.”
The Mercedes driver also accused Verstappen of being unable to cope with adversity when things do not go his way on track. Russell referred to recent incidents involving Verstappen, such as his controversial overtakes in Mexico and Budapest, and criticized his handling of difficult situations.
Enabling Verstappen’s Behavior
Russell believes that Verstappen’s behavior has been “enabled” over the years due to a lack of opposition. He cited Lewis Hamilton’s willingness to stand up to Verstappen in 2021 as an example, questioning how Verstappen would have reacted if the roles had been reversed and he had lost the championship the way Hamilton did. “Could you imagine the roles being reversed and Max losing that championship in the manner that Lewis lost that championship?” Russell asked.
He went on to suggest that Verstappen’s dominance on track has protected him from facing consequences for his actions. “In the past, he had such a dominant car, he’s not been in this position. I think the FIA is pretty on it now, and I don’t think much needs to change with its viewpoint, because he’s going to punish himself one way or another,” Russell concluded.
As the season draws to a close, it is clear that the rivalry between the two drivers has escalated, with both expressing their dissatisfaction with each other’s actions.
