The modern Formula One drivers are media savvy having beenPR trained during their junior racing careers. Long gone are the days of Michael Schumacher storming down the pit lane in an attempt to punch his rival Damon Hill, so too are the warring team mate of Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna.
Yet there is one rivalry which exposed in 2024 at the penultimate race weekend of the year in Qatar. On the high speed circuit of Losail, the drivers find it difficult to find enough space to get clean air for their qualifying laps which is crucial.
In an attempt to prevent drivers dawdling on track, the race director each weekend sets a minimum time for them to complete their non-push laps in qualifying, although transgressions often go unpunished as a driver will explain he was making room for a competitor.
Qatar row from 2024
Verstappen was following Alonso with both on a preparation lap when George Russell also preparing for a push run came flying up behind the Dutchman. He yelled over team radio that the speed Max was travelling was “super dangerous” and the matter was referred to the stewards.
Having claimed his first pole position in five months, Verstappen was demoted one place, with Russell benefitting from the decision. Yet the world champion was not a happy bunny after the meeting with the stewards where he claimed his rival had pleaded with the stewards to issue him with a penalty.
Verstappen went on to win the race with Russell only a disappointing fourth, but after the Grand Prix it became apparent there was an ongoing war of words between the two derivers.
In the post-race FIA press conference, Verstappen said: “Honestly, [it was] very disappointing because I think we’re all here, we respect each other a lot and of course, I’ve been in that meeting room many times in my life, in my career, with people that I’ve raced and I’ve never seen someone trying to screw someone over that hard. And that for me… I lost all respect [for George].”
Russell says Max is a “bully”
On his part Russell accused Verstappen of being a “bully.” Stating in the media pen, “I find his comments pretty ironic when he comes out and says, ‘I’m going to purposefully crash into you, I’m going to put you on your f*****g head in the wall’ – for me that isn’t acceptable and he’s gone beyond the line here, and I’m not going to accept it.
“So somebody’s got to stand up to a guy like this before it gets out of control.” Russell’s allegations referred to an alleged incident between the pair on the morning of the Grand Prix when the drivers parade was being assembled. The British driver also alluded to Verstappen’s aggressive behaviour in his 2021 title fight, although for many then it was six of one and half a dozen of the other.
A week later in Abu Dhabi the matter had not been resolved and George Russell who was late to the drivers end of season dinner found the only vacant seat next to Max. He declined to sit there.
Formula One: FIA “serious cover up”
Today: “We don’t really speak”
Verstappen was asked if the pair had resolved their differences. He replied: “no, but I’m sure things will sort themselves out.” While it became quickly obvious Russell would lead the Mercedes team this season as rookie team mate Kimi Anontelli struggled getting to grips with F1, George was made to wait for several months for the renewal of his contract, whilst Toto Wolff publicly courted Max Verstappen as his potential replacement.
The two drivers have shared the podium four times this season and at the latest which Russell won in Singapore the tension in the drivers cool down room was palpable. Neither spoke directly to each other preferring to independently make small talk with Lando Norris.
Speaking to the Telegraph Russell has revealed almost a year on the the situation between the pair hasn’t improved. “We don’t really speak” he admitted although he freaked, “we just say hello to each other,” he revealed.
Russell was in the media spotlight whilst his team boss was courting the world champion. When repeatedly asked about his contract situation, George reverted to the defence repeatedly, “there’s two seats in the team.” When asked how he would view having Verstappen as his team mate, George replied: ”I don’t see why he wouldn’t [want it]. I mean, it’s obviously more of a lose-lose situation for him. The same as when I was team-mates with Lewis [Hamilton]. If he beat me, he was expected to. But if he lost to me, yeah, it’s seen as a big loss. Or the same with me and Kimi [Antonelli] now. But I mean, we’re getting well ahead of ourselves here…”
Russell avoids Verstappen team mate questions
Of course this then sparked the rumours that should Verstappen go to Mercedes he wold demand the team drop George Russell. George continues about the state of his relationship with Verstappen as the season draws to a close stating, “we don’t ignore each other. I don’t lose sleep over it. And for sure, he doesn’t lose sleep over it. So it doesn’t bother me one single bit.
“Life is short. We’re all adults. We all learn from these experiences. You don’t need to be best mates as team-mates. Senna and Prost weren’t good friends, and they still finished one-two. Lewis and Nico [Rosberg], one-two.
“Obviously, Lewis and Fernando [Alonso] is a notable exception. But Lewis should have won that year [2007]. So yeah, Max is an incredible driver. There’s no denying that. But that’s why I would relish going up against him. We all believe we’re the best,” Russell concludes.
George is 63 points behind Verstappen in the driers championship and is all but mathematically out of the race to be the 2025 F1 champion. Meanwhile Verstappen continues to hunt down the McLaren duo, with the gap a tantalising 36 points with four race weekends to come.
Hamilton report: “Everything is slipping away from him”
Lewis Hamilton’s mega move to Ferrari has fizzled out into a damp squib. The much vaunted merger of two global F1 brands has failed to deliver as Hamilton has once again struggled to compete with his team mate in the same car.
He was beaten by George Russell in two of their three seasons together at Mercedes and there is a widely held view in the paddock that Hamilton cannot get to grips with the current F1 ground effect cars which arrived in the sport the season after his epic duel with Max Verstappen in 2021.
The seven times champion sits a lowly sixth in the drivers’ championship with a significant deficit to his team mate Charles Leclerc (210-146). Hamilton has been whipped in qualifying by the Monegasqur driver (15-5) and his race finishing position have been worse than Leclerc no less than 17 times in 20 Grand Prix…. READ MORE
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
A.J. Hunt is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Andrew oversees editorial standards and contributes to the site’s Formula 1 coverage. A career journalist with experience in both print and digital sports media, Andrew trained in investigative journalism and has written for a range of European sports outlets.
At TJ13, Andrew plays a central role in shaping the site’s output, working across breaking news, analysis, and long-form features. Andrew’s responsibilities include fact-checking, refining editorial structure, and ensuring consistency in reporting across a fast-moving news cycle.
Andrew’s work focuses particularly on the intersection of Formula 1 politics, regulation, and team strategy. Andrew closely follows developments involving the FIA, team leadership, and driver market dynamics, helping to provide context behind the sport’s biggest stories.
With experience covering multiple seasons of Formula 1’s modern hybrid era, Andrew has developed a detailed understanding of how regulatory changes and competitive shifts influence the grid. Andrew’s editorial approach prioritises clarity and context, aiming to help readers navigate complex developments within the sport.
In addition to editorial duties, Andrew is particularly interested in how media narratives shape fan perception of Formula 1, and how reporting can balance speed with accuracy in an increasingly digital news environment.
