The feud between George Russell and Max Verstappen ratcheted up to new levels at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend, as both drivers shared sharp criticisms of each other in the media. That tension comes from events that have happened on and off track this season, which gives us a little bit of insight into their different ways of going about racing and competing.
One, apparently, is to violently threaten your opponents.
Russell Calls Out Verstappen’s Aggressive Driving
George Russell didn’t hold back when discussing Max Verstappen’s driving style and behavior at a media event for the Abu Dhabi GP. According to the Brit, Verstappen may have all the talent in the world but his aggressive tactics, he claims, often cross the line. Russell said referring specifically to specific incidents in past years:
“I admire his on-track battles, and when he’s hard and aggressive. But what we saw at the end of the season in ’21 or what we saw in Mexico with Lando [Norris], they weren’t hard, aggressive maneuvers. They were, ‘Do or die — I’m willing to take this guy out.’ Which I don’t think is the way we should go racing.”
Later speaking to Skysports, Russell added that the lack of consequences for Verstappen’s questionable tactics had emboldened him: “I’ve known Max for a long time and I know what he’s capable of,” said Russell. “He said to me he’s going to purposely go out of his way to crash into me.”
“Someone needs to stand up to a bully like this — and so far people are letting him get away with murder.”
Personal Insults Add Fuel to the Clash
The feud escalated when Russell took issue with Verstappen’s comments from the Qatar Grand Prix, where the Dutch driver branded him ‘two-faced’ after an argument in the stewards’ room. Russell said that the remarks were entirely disrespectful and unnecessary, saying:
“For me, those comments on Saturday night and Sunday were totally disrespectful and unnecessary. Because what happens on track, we fight hard, that’s part of racing. What happens in the stewards’ room, you fight hard, but it’s never personal. But he’s taken it too far now.”
He also accused the 4-time world champion of threatening him :
“[He said it] to me privately, straight out of the stewards. He said, ‘I don’t know why you would want to screw me like this. I’m so disappointed in you. I was going to not even race you tomorrow, I was going to let you by, but now if I have to, I will purposely go out of my way to put you on your f****ing head in the wall.’ So I don’t understand why he was so unnecessarily aggressive and violent in that regard.”
Verstappen Fires Back
Max Verstappen, unsurprisingly, had a swift and biting response. Verstappen shrugged off Russell’s comments as baseless, telling de Telegraaf he was a ‘loser’ and a ‘bully’:
“Yes, but George is a bully. That he brings all this stuff in. He’s just a loser. He lies and pastes all kinds of things together that are not true. I only gave my opinion about his behavior with the stewards. He’s clearly not into that.”
But when asked if he had threatened Russell during their confrontation, the reigning champion also rejected the allegations. He said:
“That’s not true; I didn’t say it like that. He’s exaggerating again. Do you know what I can’t stand? The way he attacks me unacceptably with the stewards and then acts like nothing happened the next day, patting me on the shoulder.”
It’s not the first time Russell and Verstappen clashed. During the 2023 Azerbaijan GP, the two drivers collided, causing heavy damage to Verstappen’s car. Russell apologized and attributed the incident to cold tires, while Verstappen branded the apology bogus and said if he pulled something similar in the future, he could well retaliate in kind.
This seemed to be a defining moment of the building rivalry between the two drivers that is only getting hotter.
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