Max Verstappen and George Russell have caused huge drama heading into the 2024 season finale. The duo have been caught in a tense feud after events at the Qatar Grand Prix.
Verstappen was given a controversial one-place grid penalty for the race in Qatar after he was judged to have been driving ‘unnecessarily slowly’ on a cooldown lap and impeded Russell. The subsequent penalty handed the Mercedes driver pole position and sparked a dramatic fallout between the competitors.
Verstappen had an angry exchange with Russell before the Qatar Grand Prix, which then boiled over into the stewards’ room. The latter claimed the former had threatened to deliberately crash into him – which Verstappen denies – with Russell labelling the Dutchman a ‘bully’ and encouraging his fellow drivers to stand up to the four-time champion.
Verstappen doubled down on his comments in Abu Dhabi, accusing Russell of lying to the stewards and stating he had lost respect for the Mercedes driver. The Dutchman’s alleged crash threats are serious statements, but the FIA is not planning on investigating the matter at this stage.
In the wake of the conflict, Jolyon Palmer heaped praise onto Russell for the way he ‘stood up’ to Verstappen with his comments.
But the former Renault driver could not say the same about Lando Norris and the way the McLaren driver has dealt with Verstappen during their title battle.
Jolyon Palmer says Lando Norris has been ‘magnanimous’ with Max Verstappen amid George Russell drama
Norris has come to blows with the Dutchman numerous times across the season but has often shrugged off any drama they have had and got on with the racing.
The 24-year-old gave his verdict on the Verstappen-Russell drama, stating that ‘Max tells the truth’ and sometimes people cannot handle that. Craig Slater was left stunned by Norris’ comments given the drama he has had with the Red Bull driver on track this season.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, Palmer said Norris has been ‘magnanimous’ with Verstappen this season, while Russell has established himself as ‘one of the statesman of F1’ by not backing down against the Dutchman after Qatar.
“Verstappen and Russell is a rivalry that has boiled over in public in the last seven days. It has been bubbling away this year. Whereas Lando Norris has been magnanimous about some of Verstappen’s sometimes sketchy moves, Russell has stood up as chairman of the GPDA,” he said.
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“He is one of the statesman of F1 now, even though he is not actually that old himself. He said after Austin that 19 of the drivers agreed that Verstappen should have got a penalty. They don’t see eye to eye.
“When you thought the season was coming to a quiet end, the tension is high.”
“I respect the fact that Russell has turned up and is standing up for himself,” he added. “It was publicly aggressive from Verstappen on Sunday and he didn’t need to do that – he’d just won the race. George is not meek and mild.
“He might have this persona of being a peacekeeper but he would love to be in the fight. He is forthright with what he thinks and will happily have a go at someone when he thinks they have done wrong.
“This is what rivalries are about – I like that the shackles are off.”
Christian Horner tells Toto Wolff to focus on Lewis Hamilton’s last race with Mercedes instead of him
Naturally, with their drivers feuding, Red Bull and Mercedes team principals Christian Horner and Toto Wolff have been caught in a conflict of their own.
Horner claimed that Verstappen’s penalty in Qatar was awarded due to some ‘hysterics from Russell. Wolff attacked Horner in Abu Dhabi for his comments towards his driver, labelling him a ‘yapping little terrier’ who always has something to say.
Horner feels Wolff should focus on Lewis Hamilton’s final race with Mercedes and celebrating their incredible partnership rather than worrying about him.
The seven-time world champion will leave the Silver Arrows after 12 sensation years and make the switch to Ferrari on a multi-year deal.
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