George Russell has clarified the remarks he made about Formula E driver Dan Ticktum after his controversial clash with Max Verstappen after the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix.
The Mercedes driver made the comments to the media, including Motorsport Week, immediately after the race two weeks ago, in which he was hit by the Red Bull with just two laps to go.
An irked Russell was asked if there was any other driver that would make a similar manoeuvre to Verstappen’s, to which the Briton replied: “Not in Formula 1, maybe in Formula E. Maybe one British driver in Formula E.”
Ticktum took to his Instagram account a few hours later, saying in a humourous video: “Number one, thank you for the free publicity. We’ll take that any day of the week. And two, while what Max did today was a little bit sceptical, to be a likened to him at any point in my career is positive if you ask me.”
Ahead of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix, Russell was asked by Motorsport Week if he had seen Ticktum’s riposte, to which he shrugged the testy back-and-forth off, saying: “I was told about that this morning,” he said.
“Yeah, I didn’t really have much to say. I’ve known Ticktum for a while. Obviously a talented driver. I didn’t mean any offence with my comment. I was just using that as an example.
“So, yeah, I heard he saw the funny side of it.”
When asked if there were any lingering problems between the two drivers, Russell denied that was the case.
“No, I’ve not actually seen him for a long time, so I know he’s racing in Formula E,” he said. “I keep half an eye on that when I can, so I know he’s done a pretty decent job.”
Ticktum is enjoying his best-ever season in FE to date, with his first-ever podium in the all-electric championship coming last month in Tokyo.
The Cupra Kiro man is 10th in the Drivers’ standings with 55 points, 27 more already than his previous overall season best.
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