Red Bull’s Max Verstappen said he “lost all respect” for George Russell over the way the Mercedes driver campaigned to get him penalised ahead of the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix.
Verstappen initially put his Red Bull in pole position for Sunday’s race at the Lusail International Circuit, going 0.055s faster than Russell.
However, replays showed him slowing down to avoid cars ahead on his cool-down lap, just as Russell was speeding behind on his out-lap.
Verstappen was summoned to the stewards and handed a one-place grid drop, elevating Russell to pole but the Dutchman was left with a sour taste after the hearing.
“It wasn’t very enjoyable to see that happen, because I think that’s the first time that in a slow lap someone has been penalised,” Verstappen having got the last laugh by winning the Qatar GP.
“I didn’t want to screw anyone over to prepare their lap. And by doing that, you know, being nice, basically you get a penalty.
“That’s what I tried to explain as well. But I just felt like I was talking to a brick wall.
“It was clear cut that around me there were different scenarios going on as well, with people having colder tyres and stuff. So they had to push anyway and I didn’t want to then cause a scene into a last corner and then no one had a lap.”
Verstappen said that Russell, who also attended the hearing, acted in a manner that the Dutchman said was “honestly, very disappointing.
“[The drivers] respect each other a lot.
“I’ve been in that meeting room many times in my career, with people that I’ve raced and I’ve never seen someone trying to screw someone over that hard.
“For me, I lost all respect.”
‘I don’t want anything to do with him,” fumes Verstappen
Verstappen’s displeasure with Russell wasn’t restricted to the FIA official press conference.
Speaking with Dutch broadcaster Viaplay, Verstappen was even more direct with his irritation towards the Mercedes driver.
“I’ve lost all respect,” he said.
“He’s always polite in front of the cameras, but in person, he is completely different.
“I don’t want anything to do with him.”
This type of drama is just the ticket for F1’s travelling docu-series Drive to Survive and according to Sky Sports F1 reporter Ted Kravitz, the Verstappen, Russell spat just might make the cut.
According to Kravitz, Netflix cameras picked up Verstappen and Russell arguing after their stewards’ meeting, with Verstappen no less angry then than he was post-race in Qatar.
READ MORE – George Russell casts verdict on incident that cost Max Verstappen Qatar F1 pole
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