Verstappen and Russell, all the controversies among the F1 drivers

When Max Verstappen and George Russell challenge each other on the track, controversy is hardly missing. A trend that has lasted since 2023, when a race accident cooling relationships. Since then, as soon as the British of Mercedes and the Dutchman on Red Bull cross their trajectories, he ends up unleashing the uproar. The pilots said everything: accusations of incorrectness, insults and even provocative nicknames. In short, a particularly heated rivalry even if it is never coincided with the struggle for the F1 World Cup. Here are the stages of this dualism until the Barcelona car, an episode for which, albeit 24 hours late, Max apologized on social media.

Azerbaijan 2023

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The rivalry between Verstappen and Russell began in Baku, Azerbaijan after the Sprint race. All the fault of a contact on the first lap. The overtaking attempt by the Mercedes pilot ended up causing a real gash on the side of Red Bull. Max closed third, immediately in front of George, but after the race he verbally attacked his colleague: “Did you not have grip? This applies to everyone, but you have to leave room. Next time to wait for the same treatment”. Then to the media he explained his point of view: “I don’t understand why to take these risks on the first lap. Russell has arrived with so much Understanding and on my side there is a hole. I can’t defend myself because there is Princess George?”. Russell’s replica pigeon: “I don’t know what he complains about: he arrived third. I think every pilot is aware of the dangers. I compete to fight, to win. I don’t go back just because Max is at the top of the World Cup”.

Qatar 2024

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Again Verstappen against Russell in Qatar in 2024, a year after the first episode. This time the controversies hit after the qualifications in Lusail. The Dutchman was penalized for hindering the Mercedes pilot and thus lost the pole position in favor of the British. Although he still winning the Grand Prix, Max said he had lost respect for the opponent. A few days later George revealed to the media a sensational background: “I find his rather ironic comments. He said to me: ‘I would have let you pass in the race, I would not have challenged you. But now I will do everything to put your head in the wall’. For me this is unacceptable, it went beyond the limit. Someone must keep up with this boy before the situation is out of control. For years ago the bully with the other pilots”.

The (short) peace

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After the quarrel in Qatar it was complicated to start a rapprochement between Verstappen and Russell. The end of year dinner organized by the pilots present in F1, when George blatantly decided to sit down from Max, is emblematic. A few weeks later, however, the Dutchman told Servus TV that the situation had improved: “We spoke briefly after Abu Dhabi. It’s all ok. We will start again next year and everything will be fine”. A statement that today makes you smile thinking about the last bistic on the track.

Spain 2025

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Finally here is the new controversy after the Spanish Grand Prix. First an aggressive overtaking of Russell, with Mercedes that does not give space to Red Bull, forcing it to cut the first chicane; Then a collision of Verstappen as he sold the fourth position. The maneuver cost a penalty to the four -time world champion, slipped to tenth place and then punished by the rival after the race: “Verstappen forgot that it was a real F1 race and not of IRACING or something. This is an example of how it usually competes. It came to me. I don’t know what she was thinking of doing”. This time Max admitted the error: “I was frustrated for the choice of tires and the restart behind Safety Car. So I carried out a maneuver that should not have occurred”. The next day, even without using the word “excuse”, the four -time world champion on social media stressed: “I shouldn’t have done that maneuver”.