Trouble in Formula 1
Driver trouble continues: “A loser and a fraudster”
December 6, 2024 – 2:47 p.mReading time: 4 minutes
The dispute between Max Verstappen and George Russell continues to escalate. Now the opponents met directly for the first time again – and had to be separated.
Max Verstappen and George Russell could hardly have sat much further away from each other. After their heated argument with lying accusations and serious accusations in the paddock in Abu Dhabi, the Formula 1 world champion and the Mercedes driver saw each other again on Thursday evening at the drivers’ traditional end-of-season dinner.
Before they took a seat near the end of the table, their argument had escalated – and the relationship between the racers seemed to be permanently destroyed. “He can’t deal with adversity. When something doesn’t go his way, he lashes out with unnecessary anger and borderline violence. That’s not a person I respect,” Russell said of Verstappen.
The dispute is sparked by Russell’s demand for a penalty for Verstappen. The Red Bull driver recently hindered him in qualifying in Qatar. After the World Cup race last Sunday, Verstappen criticized the Brit’s behavior with the race stewards. “We all have to follow the rules, but he doesn’t follow them,” Russell said. “I find it quite ironic when he tells me I’m going to intentionally cause an accident with you and slam your damn head against the wall.”
According to Russell, Verstappen made this threat last Saturday evening. “For me this is unacceptable. He has crossed a line,” said the 26-year-old in the United Arab Emirates: “I have known Max for twelve years and have always respected him, but now the respect is gone.” According to Russell, such defiant behavior is not new with the Dominator: “I saw him like that in a kart as a 14-year-old.”
Verstappen denied the statement about a deliberate crash and fired back in the Dutch daily newspaper De Telegraf. “George is a loser and a cheater,” said Verstappen: “He puts all sorts of things together that are not true.”
Verstappen was said to have been extremely angry while talking to the stewards, even before Russell could say anything. “It wasn’t that dramatic. Maybe next time I’ll bring tissues,” replied Verstappen, who made his girlfriend Kelly Piquet’s pregnancy public shortly before the season finale. He will be a father for the first time next year.
The dispute has long since spread and the team bosses also got involved. “Why does he allow himself to talk about my driver like that?” said Mercedes motorsport director Toto Wolff in the direction of Red Bull team boss Christian Horner: “He’s a yapping little terrier. He always has something to say.”
Horner had described Russell as “hysterical” in a media round on Sunday, and the Silver Arrows wouldn’t put up with that. Horner again reacts to these statements from Wolff with humor. When asked about Wolff’s “terrier” statements, he said: “Is it that bad? I’m not afraid to take on the big dogs.” A tip in the direction of the Austrian followed promptly: “I might rather be a terrier than a wolf.” He also supported his driver: “I believe Max – 100 percent. There were other people in the room and they were also surprised at how it happened,” he said.
Verstappen will not budge from his position two weeks after winning his fourth world title. “I don’t regret anything,” said the Dutchman clearly: “Maybe I would even say more today.” Even several days after the incident, the 27-year-old was still upset that Russell had denounced him to the authorities. “I have never experienced anything like this in my entire career, it was unacceptable for me,” said Verstappen and also added: “I have lost all respect.”
Before the last race of the season on Sunday (2 p.m. in the live ticker on t-online) he even accused Russell of lying and explained: “I didn’t expect someone to try so actively to punish someone else. That wasn’t nice and even very shocking.” Russell didn’t want to hear any lies. “Facts are facts,” said the Briton: “I don’t know the reasons for his personal attack. But I won’t change my mind.”