Verstappen slams Russell after stewards row: 'I've lost all respect'
Yesterday at 03:24 PM
Max Verstappen has sharply criticized George Russell, declaring he has "lost all respect" for the Mercedes driver following their clash during Saturday's qualifying session for the Qatar Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver was incensed by Russell's conduct during their subsequent meeting with the stewards, claiming the Briton exaggerated events to Verstappen's detriment.
The controversy began when Verstappen was penalized for allegedly driving unnecessarily slowly at Turn 12 during the final qualifying laps. Russell had to take evasive action behind Verstappen, who was attempting to create a gap to the cars ahead before his final flying lap.
The stewards issued Verstappen a one place grid penalty that demoted the four-time world champion from pole to P2, a decision that left the Dutchman fuming.
Speaking on Sunday, Verstappen did not mince words about his frustration with the penalty and the stewards' handling of the situation.
"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. I'm not happy with it, but at one point or another, you have to just turn the page," Verstappen said.
The reigning world champion insisted he had acted in good faith, trying not to disrupt anyone else's preparation laps. However, he felt penalized for his attempt at sportsmanship.
"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."
Verstappen described his stewards' meeting as frustrating, claiming his perspective was dismissed.
"I just felt like I was talking to a brick wall, so there's not much that was possible for whatever reason," he said.
"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."
Verstappen reserved his harshest criticism for Russell, accusing him of deliberately trying to influence the stewards' decision.
"I was quite surprised, when sitting there in the stewards' room, what was all going on. It was honestly very disappointing because I think all of us here, we respect each other a lot," Verstappen said.
"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."
Verstappen's ire was put to good at the start on Sunday's race, according to Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.
"He was annoyed with George and the way things played out in front of the stewards yesterday. And he carried that motivation into the race," Horner said.
The animosity reportedly spilled over into the pre-race drivers' parade, where Verstappen made his intentions clear.
"It was suggested that Max told George pre-race that he was going to pass him into the first corner," Horner said. "He got an amazing start. And that whole 'first, second, third gear' phase of the start, he was going to be the only car that was going to come out of Turn 1 in the lead."
Horner added that Verstappen's determination was palpable.
"You could sense that George kind of sensed that as well. 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."
Verstappen's comments signal a significant strain in his relationship with Russell, previously seen as a respectful rival. With the fallout from Qatar adding to the tension, their next on-track encounters promise to be even more closely watched.
For F1's flying Dutchman, the episode underscores his frustration with what he perceives as a lack of fairness in the sport, while for Russell, it may mark the beginning of a fierce competitive rivalry.
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