F1 News: Max Verstappen has 'lost respect' for George Russell in Qatar

Max Verstappen attacked Mercedes driver George Russell after yesterday’s stewards’ meeting which ended with the former losing pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix.

Speaking to the media, the Red Bull driver, who still took the victory, commented (translated as X):

“The way he acted was completely ridiculous. I have respect for everyone, but I lost it with him. I found it ridiculous the way he wanted to give me a penalty. I was also very angry with him about this.

“He’s very neat on camera, but off camera he’s a completely different person. I can’t stand this, I might as well get the hell out of here. I don’t want anything to do with it.”

“Your camera is your heel netjes, but it is your heel and your person. If I can’t do it, I can do it better. Daar wil ik niets mee te maken hebben.

– Joost Nederpelt (@JoostNederpelt) December 1, 2024

Verstappen added:

“I went to the stewards several times. I’ve never seen a driver try so hard to screw another driver.”

Verstappen himself, about Russell: “I’m fine with the stewards geweest. I didn’t understand that a rider, another rider, had to probe hard for you naaien.” #F1

– Joost Nederpelt (@JoostNederpelt) December 1, 2024

Commissioners carried out a detailed assessment of the incident, taking into account evidence from telemetry data, multiple camera angles and in-car video footage. While typical moves of this nature warrant a three-place grid penalty, Verstappen was spared the harsher penalty and instead incurred a one-place grid penalty as neither driver was in a push turn.

The stewards note:

“The stewards heard from the driver of car 1 (Max Verstappen), the driver of car 63 (George Russell), team representatives and reviewed the positioning/classification system data, video, timing , telemetry, team radio and on-board video evidence.

“Car 1 followed a different preparation strategy than car 63. Car 1 was well outside the delta and the driver of car 1 explained that he had let cars 4 and 14 pass. The driver of car 63 claimed that he respected the delta and did not expect car 1 to be on the racing line. He stated that if a car was going slowly through a corner at high speed, it should not. not be sure the racing trajectory.

“The stewards view this case as complicated in that car 1 clearly did not comply with the race director’s event notes and was clearly, in our determination, driving unnecessarily slowly given the circumstances.

“It was obvious that the driver of car 1 was trying to cool his tires. He could also see car 63 approaching as he looked in his rearview mirror several times while on the short straight between the turns 11 and 12.”

1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
3. Oscar Piastri, McLaren
4. George Russell, Mercedes
5. Pierre Gasly, Alpine
6. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
7. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
8. Zhou Guanyu, Sauber
9. Kevin Magnussen, Haas
10. Lando Norris, McLaren
11. Valtteri Bottas, Sauber
12. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
13. Yuki Tsunoda, VCARB
14. Liam Lawson, VCARB
15. Alex Albon, Williams
16. Nico Hülkenberg, Haas – DNF
17. Sergio Pérez, Red Bull – DNF
18. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin – DNF
19. Franco Colapinto, Williams – DNF
20. Esteban Ocon, Alpine – DNF