“Very shocking”
Max Verstappen is stepping up in the dispute with competitors
12/05/2024Reading time: 1 min.
At the Qatar Grand Prix there was a dispute over a penalty between Max Verstappen and George Russell. Now the world champion is upping the ante again.
Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has stepped up his fight with Mercedes rival George Russell. “I don’t regret anything,” said Verstappen about the harsh verbal criticism of his rival after the Qatar Grand Prix: “Maybe I would even say more today.”
The 27-year-old Dutchman said at a press conference in Abu Dhabi that he still couldn’t believe “that someone could be like that.” “I’ve never experienced anything like that in my entire career; it wasn’t acceptable for me.”
After the World Cup race in Qatar last Sunday, Verstappen criticized the Brit’s behavior with the race stewards. The trigger was Russell’s demand for a penalty because he felt that Verstappen was hindering him in qualifying. “I have lost all respect,” Verstappen said shortly afterwards. Now the Red Bull star became even clearer.
He even accused Russell of lying, stating, “I didn’t expect someone to be so active in trying to get someone else punished. That wasn’t nice and actually very shocking.”
Neither driver had set a fast lap at the Lusail International Circuit. Verstappen was denied pole position by the race stewards; instead, Russell started the penultimate race of the season from first place. But Verstappen won the Grand Prix.