Max Verstappen and George Russell have been embroiled in quite the exchange over the last week or so, and it exploded into life on Thursday’s media day in Abu Dhabi.
The four-time champion was penalised during the Qatar Grand Prix as a result of impeding the Brit during a Q3 warm-up lap.
Russell campaigned for a Verstappen penalty, and he was duly dropped one place on the grid due to his actions.
It didn’t take him long to avenge that with a turn-one lunge which helped the Dutchman reclaim the lead before he sailed off into the distance and won.
Max Verstappen’s ‘extreme’ approach not ‘over the line’ yet
Verstappen was disappointed at how Russell campaigned for a penalty after the weekend, which led to a heated exchange between the two.
The Brit wanted to stand up against the ‘bully’ and hasn’t backed down after he claimed that he threatened to slam his head ‘against a wall’.
Speaking on F1’s Weekend Warm-Up, James Hinchcliffe said that although the reigning champion’s actions have been extreme, he has only crossed the line in combat once.
READ MORE: Slater ‘very surprised’ by what Norris just said about Verstappen amid Russell feud
“It’s a step too far if he does it. Trash talk is part of sports. If every word of every athlete’s mouth was taken literally, we wouldn’t have professional sport.
“You absolutely cannot use your car as a weapon, you get your licence taken away for something like that. So, words are one thing. I think we have to judge Max on his actions.
“Which are severe, they are extreme. To this point, they haven’t been over the line, they’ve been on it quite a bit. Over the line that one time in Mexico for sure. That’s what he does.”
Is Verstappen vs Russell F1’s new big rivalry?
Russell and Verstappen could be one to watch out for on track both at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and throughout 2025.
If Mercedes improves enough, or Red Bull takes a few steps back over the winter, they will be in close quarters on the track next year and they have made it clear that they will spare no inch.
The Dutchman has revealed that he will no longer invite his rival to play Padel in Monaco and that he has plenty of other friends to play with.
READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton sends two-word message to George Russell ahead of his farewell to Mercedes
Just as the Lewis Hamilton vs Verstappen rivalry fades, it’s nice that there are signs of life in another rivalry which could replace that for the following years.
If they clash on track though, it could open the door for Lando Norris to swoop in and finally claim his first world championship for McLaren.
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