Max Verstappen has launched a scathing attack on fellow Formula 1 driver George Russell, declaring he had “lost all respect” for his rival following a heated incident during qualifying at the Qatar Grand Prix.
The confrontation stemmed from a dispute during qualifying at the Lusail circuit, where Verstappen accused Russell of attempting to “screw him over” with the stewards.
The incident led to a tense exchange between the two drivers before Sunday’s race.
Following the incident, Verstappen was particularly critical of Russell’s behaviour during their stewards’ meeting.
George Russell and Max Verstappen rowed in Qatar
GETTY
“I was quite surprised, when sitting there in the stewards’ room, what was all going on,” Verstappen said.
“It was honestly very disappointing, because I think all of us here, we respect each other a lot.
“I’ve been in that meeting room many times in my life and my career with people that I’ve raced. And I’ve never seen someone trying to screw someone over that hard. For me, I lost all respect.”
Both drivers had been summoned to give their accounts of the incident, with Verstappen left visibly incensed by Russell’s conduct during the hearing.
Verstappen’s criticism intensified in an interview with Dutch television, where he highlighted the disparity in Russell’s behaviour.
“He always does it very nicely here in front of the camera, but then when you’re inside with him in person, it’s just a different person,” Verstappen said.
George Russell was bumped up to pole
REUTERS
The world champion was particularly direct in his dismissal of Russell, adding: “I can’t stand that and it’s actually better for him to f*** off. I don’t want to get involved in this.”
The controversy deepened when Verstappen received a one-place grid penalty, removing him from pole position and promoting Russell to the spot.
The world champion expressed disbelief at the stewards’ decision. “I couldn’t believe that I got it. But in a way I was also not surprised anymore in the world that I live in,” he said.
“I’m not happy with it, but at one point or another you have to just turn the page.
“It wasn’t very enjoyable to see that happen because I think that’s the first time that in a slow lap someone has been penalised.
“Actually, I just tried to be nice, so maybe I shouldn’t be nice. I didn’t want to screw anyone over to prepare their lap. And by doing that, being nice, basically you get a penalty.
“And that’s what I tried to explain as well, but I just felt like I was talking to a brick wall, so there’s not much that was possible for whatever reason.
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Max Verstappen ended up winning the race comfortably
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“It was clear-cut that around me there were different scenarios going on as well, with people having colder tyres and stuff, so they have to push anyway. I didn’t want to then cause a scene into the last corner and for nobody to have a lap.”
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner confirmed the row between Russell and Verstappen took place on the driver’s parade.
“I think there was a little bit of a moment between the two of them on the trailer as they go around the circuit, that Max felt that things just went a bit too far yesterday,” Horner revealed.