Verstappen not shocked by “backstabber” Russell’s feedback

Max Verstappen says he’s not shocked by what he claims is George Russell misrepresenting their interactions in Qatar, and known as the Mercedes driver a “backstabber”.

Verstappen and Russell had a disagreement after Qatar qualifying when Verstappen felt Russell was making an attempt to get him penalised for impeding on an out-lap, which netted the Dutchman a one-place penalty to drop behind the Mercedes on the grid.

Verstappen went public along with his grievances over Russell’s behaviour, saying he misplaced all respect for the way he was making an attempt to get him in bother within the stewards’ workplace.

Their row continued one week on in Abu Dhabi, with Russell calling Verstappen a bully and saying it was time somebody stood up towards him after claiming the world champion threatened to place him “on his head into the f***ing wall” at first of the Qatar race.

Probed additional on the topic by Motorsport.com on Thursday, Verstappen claimed Russell dramatised their dialog and known as the Briton a “backstabber” and a liar.

“That’s already not appropriate,” he mentioned when requested concerning the crash risk. “But , these issues do not shock me. I simply give my opinion about how he’s. Of course, he is not pleased with it, nevertheless it’s the identical factor he did on the stewards. Lying and placing issues collectively that are not appropriate.

“He’s a backstabber. It does not matter to me. You haven’t got to speak an excessive amount of about individuals like that, they’re simply losers.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images

“We had the final giggle as a result of in the long run we gained that race. They could have began on pole due to their nitpicking on the stewards, however 300 metres later they have been behind us once more.”

Verstappen was bemused by Russell’s feedback on somebody having to face up towards the Dutchman’s antics, suggesting that his annoyance at Russell was solely triggered by their go to to the stewards and never associated to the elevated opposition Red Bull confronted this 12 months, as Russell instructed.

“Why would anybody have to face up towards me? I did nothing flawed, did I? I simply mentioned I’m disillusioned about his actions on the stewards, that is all,” Verstappen refuted.

“It has nothing to do with anything. I used to be very relaxed, I had already gained my championship. Only, he needed to be so dramatic to attempt to begin first. He was screaming to achieve one place, for him it might probably make a giant distinction.

“He is mentioning lots of issues that are not based mostly on the reality. But that’s what occurred on the stewards as nicely. He insinuated lots of issues that do not make any sense.

“It’s typical for him. People can imagine no matter they need, it is simply not true. I’m all the time the identical individual, whether or not I’m at residence, right here or on the stewards. You cannot say that about everybody.”

When pressed on what was truly mentioned in Qatar, he replied: “Not that. I did not say it like that. But , that is one other factor. That occurred behind closed doorways, so you do not have to share every part that was mentioned there and make it extra dramatic.”

Verstappen instructed his beforehand cordial relationship with Russell is past restore, however mentioned he additionally would not lose sleep over the spat as he is not round to make mates within the paddock.

“No, however that does not matter. We do not need to be finest mates,” he added. “That’s not why I’m right here, to be finest mates with him. That’s not my aim within the paddock, so I do not care that a lot about it.

“Especially if somebody acts like that in the direction of you in entrance of the stewards. I’m carried out with him for some time.

“Qatar is Qatar and we simply transfer on. I gave my opinion about what occurred and that is it. Life goes on.”

Photos from Abu Dhabi GP Thursday