Max Verstappen launched an astonishing assault on George Russell after , describing the Mercedes driver as “two-faced” and saying he had “misplaced all respect” for the Briton.
Verstappen, the newly-crowned four-time world champion, was clearly incensed after being stripped of pole place for the race, accusing Russell of “making an attempt laborious to screw him over” within the stewards’ room with the intention to earn him a penalty.
The Purple Bull driver, 27, was handed an unprecedented one-place grid penalty for driving “unnecessarily slowly” in entrance of Russell after they had been each on a gradual lap, compromising Russell’s last flying lap. The Briton inherited pole place in consequence.
“You understand what it’s,” Verstappen stated after the race. “He [Russell] is at all times well mannered in entrance of the cameras, however in individual he’s utterly totally different. I can’t stand that. Then it’s higher to only f— off. I don’t need something to do with him.
“I couldn’t consider that I received [the penalty]. I believe that’s the primary time that in a gradual lap somebody has been penalised. Truly, I simply tried to be good, so perhaps I shouldn’t be good. I didn’t need to screw anybody over to organize their lap. And by doing that, being good, mainly you get a penalty.
“It was truthfully very disappointing, as a result of I believe all of us right here, we respect one another loads. I’ve been in that assembly room many occasions in my life and my profession with those who I’ve raced. And I’ve by no means seen somebody making an attempt to screw somebody over that onerous. For me, I misplaced all respect.”
Verstappen and Russell appeared to change phrases earlier than the race, in the course of the drivers’ parade. Experiences from contained in the paddock claimed Verstappen had advised his Mercedes rival: “I hope you and your FIA f— buddies are blissful.”
Verstappen went on to say his ninth win of the season, from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. McLaren’s Lando Norris apologised for “f—— up” the race, as he earned a pricey penalty for ignoring yellow flags.
