Formula 1: Max Verstappen has ‘lost all respect’ for George Russell over grid penalty
The Dutchman says Russell ‘always acts very nice here in front of the cameras’ but is ‘a completely different person’ in the stewards’ room
A furious Max Verstappen says he has “lost all respect” for George Russell and accused him of being two-faced after the drivers were involved in a public spat at Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix.
Verstappen was stripped of pole position in the early hours of Sunday morning after the stewards said he impeded Russell as both men geared up for their hot laps in the final phase of Saturday’s qualifying.
Russell complained over the radio that it was “super dangerous” that he had had to avoid Verstappen ahead of him, and both were summoned to a stewards’ inquiry.
The sanction elevated Russell to pole.
The PA news agency understands the British driver offered a fist bump to Verstappen in the holding pen ahead of the drivers’ parade, which takes place 90 minutes before the race.
However, the Dutchman deliberately ignored Russell’s gesture before staring the Mercedes man down in full view of the other drivers.
