George Russell Fires Back at Max Verstappen: F1 Rivalry Heats Up in Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — The Formula 1 season may be winding down, but the drama is only heating up. George Russell has taken his feud with reigning F1 champion Max Verstappen to a whole new level, accusing the Dutchman of threatening to crash into him during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend. And if you thought this was just another racing spat, think again—this one’s personal.
Russell didn’t hold back when speaking to a small group of media, including ESPN, on Thursday. He claimed Verstappen told him, “he was going to purposefully go out of his way to crash into me and ‘put me on my f—ing head in the wall.’” This alleged comment came after a heated exchange in the stewards’ room following a controversial qualifying session in Qatar just a week earlier.
The Qatar Incident: A Prelude to the Fireworks
Let’s rewind for a moment. In Qatar, Verstappen lost pole position after being penalized for blocking Russell during qualifying. The incident sent both drivers to the stewards’ room, where tensions clearly boiled over. Verstappen was handed a one-place grid penalty, dropping him behind Russell. But in true Verstappen fashion, he still managed to win the race, proving once again why he’s one of the most dominant drivers in the sport.
However, Verstappen didn’t let the incident slide. In post-race interviews, he accused Russell of being two-faced, saying, “He acts decent in front of the camera here, but when you talk to him personally, he is a different person … I can’t stand that. In that case, you can better f— off.”
Russell, for his part, initially planned to keep the matter private. But after hearing Verstappen’s public comments, he decided to set the record straight. And boy, did he ever.
Russell’s Explosive Response
Speaking candidly, Russell said, “I find it all quite ironic seeing as Saturday night he said he was going to purposefully go out of his way to crash into me and ‘put me on my f—–g head in the wall.’” He added, “To question somebody’s integrity as a person, while saying comments like that the day before, I find is very ironic, and I’m not going to sit here and accept it.”
Russell didn’t stop there. He accused Verstappen of being unable to handle adversity, pointing to past incidents like Jeddah 2021, Brazil 2021, and even Budapest earlier this year. “Whenever anything has gone against him … he lashes out,” Russell said. “For me, those comments on Saturday night and Sunday were totally disrespectful and unnecessary.”
Behind Closed Doors: What Really Happened?
Russell provided more details about the alleged altercation, saying Verstappen confronted him immediately after their stewards’ meeting. According to Russell, Verstappen 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.”
Russell described Verstappen’s behavior as “unnecessarily aggressive and violent,” adding, “I honestly just want to set the record straight. Because it’s just a total double standard that he has for the regulations, and just thinking that he is above everybody else.”
Verstappen’s Reputation Under Fire
Verstappen’s aggressive driving style has been a hot topic for years, and Russell didn’t shy away from addressing it. He suggested that Verstappen has been emboldened by years of favorable decisions from the stewards. “Maybe that is why he thinks he can get away with murder. But that is not the world we live in, and actions have consequences,” Russell said.
He also criticized Verstappen’s treatment of his own team, referencing the Dutchman’s frustration during the first race this year when Red Bull’s car wasn’t dominant. “At the very first race that he wasn’t competitive, [Verstappen] was absolutely slamming his team, and I know for a fact the week after, a quarter of his engineering team were sending their CVs to Mercedes, to McLaren, to Aston,” Russell claimed.
What’s Next for This Rivalry?
As the F1 season wraps up, all eyes will be on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to see if this feud spills over onto the track. Russell made it clear he’s not backing down, saying, “He’s the biggest, most successful guy in the sport for the last couple of years. He can do what he wants in his own business, but when he starts throwing comments around like he did on Sunday night about me, I’m not just going to sit there and accept it.”
With both drivers refusing to back down, the stage is set for an explosive finale. Will Verstappen and Russell settle their differences on the track, or will this rivalry continue to simmer into next season? One thing’s for sure: the drama in Formula 1 is far from over.
Originally Written by: Nate Saunders
