Ted Kravitz has revealed how George Russell approached him to instigate a war of words against Max Verstappen during the 2024 Formula 1 season.
Verstappen and Russell were at loggerheads during the dying embers of last season.
It all started when a qualifying incident at the Qatar Grand Prix saw Verstappen face a grid penalty after the Mercedes driver was forced to take evasive action.
The Dutchman was seemingly miffed at how Russell defended his case before the stewards, later saying that he had lost all respect for him.
This dynamic got even more twisted as the duo’s respective team bosses got involved in the verbal spat.
Now, with Kravitz’s tell-all about the secrets of the paddock titled ‘Notes from the Pitlane’ being published, new details about the pair’s feud have come to light.
As it turns out, after the race weekend at Lusail, the Briton was pretty adamant about stretching out the incident.
The Sky F1 reporter revealed in his book that Russell approached him at the season final in Yas Marina Circuit in the media pen.
“A week after Qatar, when Russell arrived at the Abu Dhabi track, he was in no mood to let the Verstappen situation lie,” he wrote.
Russell had tagged Verstappen as a “bully” and Kravitz divulged the Briton’s plan of action to bring the four-time World Champion to rights through the media.
“I’d spent the day interviewing drivers at the TV pen, but hadn’t yet heard any earth-shattering stories,” he continued.
“A minute before his time slot, up strode George. He called me over to the edge of the pen – ‘make sure you ask me a follow-up question’.
“What do you mean?’ I asked. [He replied] ‘I’m going to give it back to Max. I’ve had enough of him bad-mouthing me in the press, and I’m going to call him out on his bullying tactics.
“I know you’re only supposed to ask me one question, but never mind that, I’m up for as many questions as you like’.
“Before checking to see if he was wearing a Drive to Survive microphone, I asked him if he was absolutely sure he wanted to escalate what was effectively last year’s story, and start a new fight with Max – never an easy battle to win. He said he was positive, and away he went.”
READ MORE – The striking F1 similarity that Red Bull sees between Isack Hadjar and Max Verstappen
Discussion about this post