George Russell has accused Max Verstappen of threatening to intentionally crash into him in the course of the Qatar Grand Prix.
The Mercedes driver hit again at his rival as a bitter disagreement broke out over the penalty which value Verstappen pole place for final weekend’s race.
Verstappen was given a one-place grid penalty for obstructing Russell previous to their closing flying laps on the Losail Worldwide Circuit. The Purple Bull driver later accused Russell of “mendacity” within the stewards’ assembly.
Russell rejected Verstappen’s declare. “What he was doing was fairly clear,” he advised Sky. “He was going too sluggish and he was on the racing line. All of us have the principles to comply with and he didn’t comply with it.”
The Mercedes driver mentioned his rival has crossed a line by making their struggle a “private” matter.
“I’ve recognized Max for 12 years. I’ve revered him all of this time. However now I’ve misplaced respect for him.
“As a result of we’re all preventing on observe and it’s by no means private, now he’s made it private. And somebody wants to face as much as a bully like this. And thus far, individuals have let him get away with homicide.”
Advert | Grow to be a RaceFans supporter and
Russell mentioned different drivers referred to as Verstappen out for complaining about one other driver reporting a rival for breaking the principles.
“Like Carlos [Sainz Jnr] mentioned to him on Sunday morning, you’ll have executed the very same factor. On Sunday within the race, he lifted for a yellow [flag], Lando [Norris] doesn’t carry via a yellow. And he says to the crew, ‘examine what Lando does’. That’s not private towards Lando, that’s simply racing.”
Verstappen has a observe report of overreacting to incidents and must be confronted over them, Russell believes. “He can not cope with adversity. Every time something is just not going his method, he lashes out with pointless anger and borderline violence.
“You’ve seen it in Brazil previously with Ocon. You noticed it in ’21 with Lewis after which Mexico with Lando. The primary race of [this] yr, in Budapest, when he didn’t have essentially the most dominant automotive, crashes into Lewis, slamming his complete crew. That’s not a man who I respect. And I want he can be a greater position mannequin.”
“I discover his feedback fairly ironic when he comes out and says ‘I’m going to purposefully crash into you, I’m going to place you in your fucking head within the wall,” Russell added. “For me, that isn’t acceptable. And he’s gone past the road right here, and I’m not going to simply accept it. So any person goes to face as much as a man like this earlier than it will get uncontrolled.”
Russell mentioned he had no intention of complaining about Verstappen’s conduct till he was attacked in public. “I don’t need to go to the stewards,” he mentioned. “I had no intention of bringing this up.
Advert | Grow to be a RaceFans supporter and
“He mentioned this to me on a Saturday night time and I awoke Sunday morning feeling tremendous. However to come back out of these press interviews saying that I’m two-faced that I’m an F-word and this and that, he’s taking this private. [But] what occurs on observe is skilled, what occurs with the stewards is skilled.”
Miss nothing from RaceFans
Get a every day e mail with all our newest tales – and nothing else. No advertising, no advertisements. Enroll right here:
