Last Updated on December 2 2024, 10:09 am

The war of words continues after Verstappen accuses Russell of getting him penalised.

Max Verstappen and Red Bull returned to being their imperious best on a chilly night in Qatar. The race had been moved to several weeks later in the year than its slot on the Formula One 2023 calendar where in scorching heat a number of the drivers felt ill after the Grand Prix.

This year the Sprint events have been decoupled from those of the Grand Prix, with teams now allowed to change the setup of their cars once the Sprint is concluded. Red Bull got it wrong for the Sprint with Max qualifying just P6 and finishing in the final points paying position.

Checo meanwhile had another early exit from qualifying and was eventually to start from the pit lane as he became the set up guinea pig as Red Bull sought to find a better direction for later in Grand Prix qualifying. What a difference a few hours made.

 

 

 

Russell pushes for Max penalty

Verstappen looked quick from the off and was top of the time sheets as the track evolved. Come final qualifying a genius lap from the newly crowned world champion saw him claim his first pole position since Austria back in June.

Yet the stewards were to investigate Max for driving too slowly following pit radio complaints made by George Russell. With Fernando Alonso up ahead and in sight, Verstappen was on the second of two cool the tyres down lap before making his bid to be quickest in Q3.

George Russell too was preparing his tyres for one last run but he was travelling much quicker than Alonso and Verstappen and the inevitable happened in the high speed section of the circuit. Russell swerved leaving the track and kicking up dust, although later Anthony Davies of Sky F1 commented that Russell could have handled the situation better.

The stewards room was not a pretty sight if reports are to be believed. Russell was there not merely to be interviewed but by all accounts was pressing hard for Max to receive a penalty.

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Verstappen furious

Speaking to Dutch broadcaster Viably after the race, Max said: “I have a lot of respect for a lot of drivers, but after last night I completely lost that respect for him [Russell].

“I just thought it was ridiculous how he tried to force a penalty on me. And I was heavily pissed at him for that. He always does it very nicely here in front of the camera, but then when you’re inside with him in person, it’s just a different person.

“I can’t stand that and it’s actually better for him to f*** off,” concluded an angry Verstappen.

Max was asked about the incident at the FIA official post race press conference and he continued the theme of his earlier interview. “It wasn’t very enjoyable to see that happen, I didn’t want to screw anyone over and by doing that, being nice, you get a penalty.

“I didn’t want to cause a scene into that last corner, [it was] very surprising. I’ve been in that meeting room many times in my life with people I’ve raced – and I’ve never seen someone trying to screw someone over that hard. I lost all respect.”

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“You’re FIA mates…” slams Verstappen

Sky F1’s veteran journalist Ted Kravitz provided insight into how a heated ‘confrontation’ took place between Verstappen and Russell. Having been demoted by the stewards from pole following a complaint from the Mercedes driver Kravitz reveals how Max confronted George in the drivers’ parade holding room before the race.

“The rumour is, and I’ll think you’ll find this when Drive to Survive airs in February because they certainly won’t leave this little snippet on the editing room floor, that in the drivers’ parade holding room, Max then confronted George, still seething, and said something along the lines of: ‘You and your FIA mates, I hope you’re happy with what you’ve done.’”

Kravitz added: “I think the actual quote was rather ruder than that but I’m not going to say what it was. But that seems to be the confrontation that Christian Horner was referring to. It all got a bit tasty between them.”

Christian Horner also confirmed that Max and George had “a moment” during the pre-race drivers’ parade. “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,” said the Red Bull boss.

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Horner confirms “a moment” between the two

“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 think you could sense that George kind of sensed that as well. I think there was a little bit of a moment between the two of them on the trailer as they go around the circuit, that Max felt that things just went a bit too far yesterday.”

It was noticeable too on the formation lap that Verstappen dropped way back from Russell when the pair were approaching the grid. The Mercedes driver was forced to wait an age while Max completed four elongated burn outs before finally settling into his place on the front row.

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Russell breaks silence

Unlike when up against Lando Norris in Brazil, Russell flunked his lines during the second phase of the getaway, which allowed a determined Max Verstappen to muscle his way through in turn one. If Karma was in play, then Russell was also to suffer the gnome of losing a place in turn two to Lando Norris.

George finished the race outside the podium positions but refused to comment on the row with Verstappen which had dominated the news feeds.

As the post race events continued into the night, Russell posted on social media: “P4. Rollercoaster of a weekend between the strengths in quali and sprint, then a very tough race. We’ll regroup and take the learnings. We’re hungry for more.

“Season finale in Abu Dhabi, up next.”

Drivers call for FIA action ahead of Qatar GP

 

 

 

Perez part of Red Bull strategy for 2026

Sergio Perez once again cut a solitary figure in the paddock at the Lusail circuit. He failed to make it out of the first round of Sprint qualifying and eventually opted to start from the pit lane. This meant Red Bull were able to run some experimental setup on the Mexican’s car which proved invaluable come Grand Prix qualifying.

Max Verstappen is the bell weather on how the RB20 is performing and come Saturday evening in Qatar he had returned to his imperious best. Despite the McLaren pair claiming a 1-2 in the Sprint in the afternoon and looking set for a repeat in the Grand Prix, it was in fact Max and George Russell who fought it out for pole while Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri admitted their car was on the limit of its performance.

“Third isn’t the position we were hoping for after yesterday’s Sprint Quali, but it was the maximum we could do today. I’m happy with the lap but not happy with the result, we just weren’t quick enough compared to the competition,” said Lando Norris who qualified one place ahead of his team mate in fourth… READ MORE