Max Verstappen says he’s not shocked by what he claims is George Russell misrepresenting their interactions in Qatar, and known as the Mercedes driver a “backstabber”.
Verstappen and Russell had a disagreement after Qatar qualifying when Verstappen felt Russell was attempting to get him penalised for impeding on an out-lap, which netted the Dutchman a one-place penalty to drop behind the Mercedes on the grid.
Verstappen went public along with his grievances over Russell’s behaviour, saying he misplaced all respect for a way he was attempting to get him in hassle within the stewards’ workplace.
Their row continued one week on in Abu Dhabi, with Russell calling Verstappen a bully and saying it was time somebody stood up towards him after claiming the world champion threatened to place him “on his head into the f***ing wall” initially of the Qatar race.
Probed additional on the topic by Motorsport.com on Thursday, Verstappen claimed Russell dramatised their dialog and known as the Briton a “backstabber” and a liar.
“That is already not right,” he mentioned when requested in regards to the crash risk. “However , these issues do not shock me. I simply give my opinion about how he’s. In fact, he is not pleased with it, however it’s the identical factor he did on the stewards. Mendacity and placing issues collectively that are not right.
“He is a backstabber. It would not matter to me. You do not have to speak an excessive amount of about individuals like that, they’re simply losers.
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing
Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Photos
“We had the final snort as a result of in the long run we received that race. They could have began on pole because of their nitpicking on the stewards, however 300 metres later they had been behind us once more.”
Verstappen was bemused by Russell’s feedback on somebody having to face up towards the Dutchman’s antics, suggesting that his annoyance at Russell was solely triggered by their go to to the stewards and never associated to the elevated opposition Crimson Bull confronted this yr, as Russell steered.
“Why would anybody have to face up towards me? I did nothing mistaken, did I? I simply mentioned I am dissatisfied about his actions on the stewards, that is all,” Verstappen refuted.
“It has nothing to do with the rest. I used to be very relaxed, I had already received my championship. Solely, he needed to be so dramatic to try to begin first. He was screaming to realize one place, for him it could actually make an enormous distinction.
“He’s mentioning lots of issues that are not based mostly on the reality. However that’s what occurred on the stewards as effectively. He insinuated lots of issues that do not make any sense.
“It is typical for him. Individuals can imagine no matter they need, it is simply not true. I’m all the time the identical particular person, whether or not I am at residence, right here or on the stewards. You possibly can’t say that about everybody.”
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When pressed on what was really mentioned in Qatar, he replied: “Not that. I did not say it like that. However , that is one other factor. That occurred behind closed doorways, so you do not have to share all the things that was mentioned there and make it extra dramatic.”
Verstappen steered his beforehand cordial relationship with Russell is past restore, however mentioned he additionally would not lose sleep over the spat as he is not round to make associates within the paddock.
“No, however that does not matter. We do not have to be greatest associates,” he added. “That is not why I am right here, to be greatest associates with him. That is not my purpose within the paddock, so I do not care that a lot about it.
“Particularly if somebody acts like that in the direction of you in entrance of the stewards. I am finished with him for some time.
“Qatar is Qatar and we simply transfer on. I gave my opinion about what occurred and that is it. Life goes on.”
Photographs from Abu Dhabi GP Thursday
On this article
Filip Cleeren
Formulation 1
Max Verstappen
George Russell
Crimson Bull Racing
Mercedes
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