Tensions between Formula One champion Max Verstappen and fellow driver George Russell are heating up ahead of Sunday¡¯s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Addressing ESPN and a few other media outlets Thursday, Russell alleged that Verstappen threatened to ¡°purposefully go out of his way to crash into me and ¡¯put me on my (expletive) head in the wall,¡¯¡± ahead of last week¡¯s race in Qatar.
The Mercedes driver was responding to comments made by Red Bull¡¯s Verstappen in the stewards¡¯ room after an incident during last week¡¯s qualifying. Verstappen lost his pole position after receiving a one-place grid penalty for blocking Russell during qualifying.
After Verstappen went on to win the race, he accused Russell of being two-faced during an interview for Dutch TV.
¡°You know what it is? He acts decent in front of the camera here, but when you talk to him personally, he is a different person,¡± Verstappen said. ¡°I can¡¯t stand that. In that case you can better (expletive) off.¡±
On Thursday, Russell said it was ¡°quite ironic¡± that Verstappen would question his integrity.
¡°I¡¯m not going to sit here and accept it,¡± Russell said. ¡°People have been bullied by Max for years now, and you can¡¯t question his driving abilities. But he cannot deal with adversity.
¡°Whenever anything has gone against him ... he lashes out. Budapest this year, the very first race the car wasn¡¯t dominant, crashing into Lewis (Hamilton), slamming his team. ... As I said, 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.¡±
Red Bull Racing did not immediately respond to ESPN¡¯s request for comment.
Verstappen, 27, clinched his fourth consecutive world championship this season on the strength of nine wins and 19 top 5 finishes.
Russell, 26, ranks sixth in the F1 standings after recording two wins and 11 top-five finishes during the 2024 season.
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