Russell slams ‘bully’ Verstappen after revealing Qatar crash menace

George Russell has slammed Max Verstappen’s criticisms of him as bullying ways, after revealing the world champion threatened to “put me on my f*****g head within the wall” in Qatar.

Verstappen spoke out in opposition to Russell after final weekend’s race in Losail, saying he had misplaced all respect for the Briton for the way in which he behaved in a stewards’ listening to that resulted in him shedding pole place for impeding.

Speaking in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, the Dutchman doubled down on what he stated, saying it was “surprising” what Russell did in attempting to get him a penalty.

But Russell has not taken Verstappen’s feedback evenly and stated he won’t settle for remarks that he thinks are ‘disrespectful and pointless’ contemplating how he had been personally threatened final weekend.

Speaking to chose media together with Motorsport.com, Russell stated: “I discover all of it fairly ironic, contemplating Saturday evening he stated he’ll purposely exit of his method to crash into me and, quote, ‘put me on my f***ing head within the wall’.

“To query anyone’s integrity as an individual, whereas saying feedback like that the day earlier than, I discover it very ironic, and I’m not going to take a seat right here and settle for it.

“People have been bullied by Max for years now, and you may’t query his driving skills. But he can not cope with adversity each time something has gone in opposition to him.

“Jeddah ’21, Brazil ’21, he lashes out. Budapest this yr, very first race, the automobile wasn’t dominant, crashing into Lewis, slamming his crew.

Pole man Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, speak in Parc Ferme

Photo by: Dom Romney / Motorsport Images

“As I stated, for me, these feedback on Saturday evening and Sunday had been completely disrespectful and pointless, as a result of what occurs on monitor, we combat arduous. It’s a part of racing.

“What occurs within the steward’s room? You combat arduous, but it surely’s by no means private. But you recognize, he is taking it too far now.”

Russell stated he had no real interest in discussing issues with Verstappen, as he questioned why different drivers haven’t been keen to talk out concerning the Dutchman’s ways.

“I simply do not know why different drivers have once they’ve been on this battle with him, simply kind of made it really easy and simply let or not it’s,” added Russell.

“Lewis is a world champion who I aspire to be like, and I believe he’s a gold customary of a task mannequin that youthful children ought to be trying as much as.

“And the way in which Lewis handled that championship combat, he was arduous, he was aggressive, he was at all times respectful, and he by no means went past the road.

“You can transcend the road in making a slight misjudgement, however going out of your method to say you’ll purposefully crash into anyone and put them on their head is past the road.”

Asked why he had chosen to talk out now, Russell stated: “Because he is come out within the media. I really feel he has disrespected me as a driver.

“I’ve recognized him for 12 years. We’ve had respect with each other beforehand. We’ve by no means had any collisions….however we have a man who’s on the highest of this sport and who feels he is above the regulation. I do not suppose that is proper.

“I love his on-track battles, and when he’s arduous and aggressive. But what we noticed on the finish of the season in ’21, or what we noticed in Mexico with Lando [Norris], they weren’t arduous, aggressive manoeuvres. They had been do or die: ‘I’m keen to take this man out.’ Which I do not suppose is the way in which we must always go racing.”