George Russell has slammed Max Verstappen’s criticisms of him as bullying techniques, after revealing the world champion threatened to “put me on my f*****g head within the wall” in Qatar.
Verstappen spoke out towards Russell after final weekend’s race in Losail, saying he had misplaced all respect for the Briton for the way in which he behaved in a stewards’ listening to that resulted in him dropping pole place for impeding.
Talking in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, the Dutchman doubled down on what he mentioned, saying it was “surprising” what Russell did in making an attempt to get him a penalty.
However Russell has not taken Verstappen’s feedback frivolously and mentioned he won’t settle for remarks that he thinks are ‘disrespectful and pointless’ contemplating how he had been personally threatened final weekend.
Talking to chose media together with Motorsport.com, Russell mentioned: “I discover all of it fairly ironic, contemplating Saturday night time he mentioned he will purposely exit of his approach to crash into me and, quote, ‘put me on my f***ing head within the wall’.
“To query any individual’s integrity as an individual, whereas saying feedback like that the day earlier than, I discover it very ironic, and I am not going to take a seat right here and settle for it.
“Individuals have been bullied by Max for years now, and you’ll’t query his driving talents. However he can’t cope with adversity at any time when something has gone towards him.
“Jeddah ’21, Brazil ’21, he lashes out. Budapest this 12 months, very first race, the automotive wasn’t dominant, crashing into Lewis, slamming his group.
Pole man Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Crew, speak in Parc Ferme
Photograph by: Dom Romney / Motorsport Photos
“As I mentioned, for me, these feedback on Saturday night time and Sunday have been completely disrespectful and pointless, as a result of what occurs on monitor, we combat onerous. It is a part of racing.
“What occurs within the steward’s room? You combat onerous, however it’s by no means private. However you recognize, he is taking it too far now.”
Russell mentioned he had little interest in discussing issues with Verstappen, as he questioned why different drivers haven’t been prepared to talk out concerning the Dutchman’s techniques.
“I simply do not know why different drivers have once they’ve been on this battle with him, simply type of made it really easy and simply let or not it’s,” added Russell.
“Lewis is a world champion who I aspire to be like, and I feel he’s a gold normal of a task mannequin that youthful children ought to be wanting as much as.
“And the way in which Lewis handled that championship combat, he was onerous, he was aggressive, he was all the time respectful, and he by no means went past the road.
“You may transcend the road in making a slight misjudgement, however going out of your approach to say you’ll purposefully crash into any individual and put them on their head is past the road.”
Requested why he had chosen to talk out now, Russell mentioned: “As a result of he is come out within the media. I really feel he has disrespected me as a driver.
“I’ve recognized him for 12 years. We have had respect with each other beforehand. We have by no means had any collisions….however we have got a man who’s on the highest of this sport and who feels he is above the legislation. I do not assume that is proper.
“I love his on-track battles, and when he’s onerous and aggressive. However what we noticed on the finish of the season in ’21, or what we noticed in Mexico with Lando [Norris], they weren’t onerous, aggressive manoeuvres. They have been do or die: ‘I am prepared to take this man out.’ Which I do not assume is the way in which we should always go racing.”
Pictures from Abu Dhabi GP Thursday
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Jonathan Noble
Method 1
Max Verstappen
George Russell
Pink Bull Racing
Mercedes
Be the primary to know and subscribe for real-time information electronic mail updates on these subjects
Subscribe to information alerts
