Max Verstappen says George Russell has misplaced his respect following Qatar GP confrontation

Max Verstappen says he has “lost all respect” for George Russell following the Mercedes driver’s position in him being demoted from pole place for the Qatar Grand Prix.

Verstappen, who final weekend in Las Vegas was topped world champion for a fourth successive season, topped Saturday’s qualifying in Qatar however was investigated after the session for “driving unnecessarily slowly” because the drivers ready for the ultimate flying laps.

The stewards, following a listening to on Saturday evening attended by each drivers, determined that Verstappen had impeded Russell and carried out a hardly ever seen one-place grid penalty that switched their positions on the entrance row.

Crimson Bull’s Verstappen handed Russell on the first nook earlier than occurring to win Sunday’s race, with the Brit having to accept fourth after a botched pit cease ruined his hopes of a podium.

“I couldn’t believe that I got it. But in a way I was also not surprised anymore in the world that I live in,” Verstappen mentioned following his victory.

“I am not pleased with it, however at one level or one other you must simply flip the web page.

“It wasn’t very pleasing to see that occur as a result of I feel that is the primary time that in a gradual lap somebody has been penalised.

“Truly, I simply tried to be good, so perhaps I should not be good. I did not need to screw anybody over to organize their lap. And by doing that, being good, principally you get a penalty.

“And that’s what I tried to explain as well, but I just felt like I was talking to a brick wall, so there’s not much that was possible for whatever reason.

“It was clear-cut that round me there have been completely different eventualities occurring as effectively, with individuals having colder tyres and stuff, so that they should push anyway. I did not need to then trigger a scene into the final nook and for no person to have a lap.”

Russell confirmed to Sky Sports F1 in a pre-race interview that Verstappen had made it clear he was unhappy with him, while Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said on the grid that the Dutchman was “wound up”.

Verstappen continued: “I was quite surprised, when sitting there in the stewards’ room, what was all going on.

“It was truthfully very disappointing, as a result of I feel all of us right here, we respect one another quite a bit.

“I’ve been in that meeting room many times in my life and my career with people that I’ve raced. And I’ve never seen someone trying to screw someone over that hard. For me, I lost all respect.”

Horner: Russell sensed Verstappen anger

Talking to Sky Sports activities F1 after the race, Horner prompt that Russell approached the beginning with trepidation after Verstappen had aired his grievances in the course of the drivers’ parade.

Regardless of ranging from the dirtier aspect of the grid, Verstappen surged up the within of Russell, who additionally misplaced out to Lando Norris to fall to 3rd.

“He was annoyed with George, and the way things played out in front of the stewards yesterday. And he carried that motivation into the race,” Horner mentioned.

“It was clearly evident that he was super-motivated going into this race. He got an amazing start and that whole first, second, third-gear phase of the start, he was going to be the only car that was going to come out of Turn 1 in the lead.

“I feel you might sense that George type of sensed that as effectively. I feel there was a bit little bit of a second between the 2 of them on the trailer as they go across the circuit, that Max felt that issues simply went a bit too far yesterday.”

Watch the final race of the 2024 Formula 1 season – the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – live this coming week on Sky Sports F1, with Sunday’s race at 1pm. Get Sky Sports activities F1 or stream with NOW