George Russell has strongly criticized Max Verstappen for what he perceives as bullying tactics, after Verstappen’s comments following the Qatar Grand Prix. The world champion had previously called out Russell for his actions during a stewards’ hearing, which resulted in Verstappen losing his pole position due to impeding. Verstappen, in a post-race interview, expressed his loss of respect for Russell and called his behavior “surprise.” However, Russell was quick to respond, highlighting what he felt was an irony in Verstappen’s criticism, especially after Verstappen had made an aggressive threat toward him.
Russell recounted that the night before the race, Verstappen had threatened to “put me on my f*****g head in the wall,” which Russell found deeply troubling. He expressed his belief that such comments were not only disrespectful but also unnecessary, given that racing incidents should remain part of the sport without becoming personal. Russell added that he could not accept Verstappen questioning his integrity when the latter had made such a threat, calling it “ironic.”
Russell also accused Verstappen of using bullying tactics for years, pointing to several past incidents. He mentioned Verstappen’s behavior in 2021, specifically referencing the Jeddah and Brazil races, as well as the 2023 Budapest Grand Prix, where Verstappen’s actions seemed to reflect frustration when things did not go in his favor. According to Russell, Verstappen cannot handle adversity well, and this tendency has led to personal attacks beyond the normal competitiveness expected in racing.
Furthermore, Russell pointed out that other drivers had not spoken out about Verstappen’s conduct, questioning why this was the case. He expressed admiration for Lewis Hamilton, describing him as a role model who had always raced hard but with respect. Russell drew a clear line between aggressive racing and the kind of behavior Verstappen exhibited, particularly when making threats of intentional collisions, which he believes is unacceptable.
Russell emphasized that he had known Verstappen for 12 years and their relationship had previously been based on mutual respect, but after Verstappen’s recent remarks, Russell felt it was necessary to speak out, particularly as he felt disrespected both as a driver and a person.
