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Verstappen Responds to Russell’s Allegations, Calls Him a “Backstabber”
Max Verstappen has expressed his discontent with George Russell, alleging that the Mercedes driver has distorted their interactions following the Qatar Grand Prix. Verstappen labeled Russell a “backstabber” as tensions intensified between the two drivers in the wake of a controversial qualifying session.
The incident escalated when Verstappen felt that Russell was attempting to have him penalized for allegedly impeding his out-lap during qualifying. This resulted in Verstappen receiving a one-place penalty, which saw him starting behind Russell on the grid.
Following the event, Verstappen openly criticized Russell’s conduct, stating that he had lost all respect for the way Russell approached the situation, particularly in relation to the stewards. The rivalry resurfaced during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Russell accused Verstappen of bullying and claimed that the reigning world champion had threatened him before the start of the Qatar race.
In an interview with Autosport, Verstappen asserted that Russell had exaggerated their conversation and reiterated his belief that the Mercedes driver was engaging in dishonest behavior. “That’s already not correct,” Verstappen said, referring to the crash threat reported by Russell. “But you know, those things don’t surprise me. I just give my opinion about how he is. Of course, he’s not happy with it, but it’s the same thing he did at the stewards. Lying and putting things together that aren’t correct.”
Verstappen further described Russell as a “backstabber” and suggested that dismissing such behavior is easier than engaging in discussions about it. “It doesn’t matter to me. You don’t have to talk too much about people like that; they are just losers,” he added.
Despite the tensions, Verstappen maintained a sense of humor, noting that he and his team ultimately triumphed in the race: “We had the last laugh because in the end, we won that race. They may have started on pole thanks to their nitpicking at the stewards, but 300 metres later they were behind us again,” he reflected.
Verstappen also responded to Russell’s claim that someone needed to stand up against him, expressing confusion at this assertion. “Why would anyone have to stand up against me? I did nothing wrong, did I? I just said I’m disappointed about his actions at the stewards, that’s all,” he explained. He dismissed the notion that their conflicts stemmed from the competitiveness of Red Bull this season, stating that Russell’s dramatics were unwarranted.
Continuing to criticize Russell, Verstappen remarked that the Briton’s comments were filled with inaccuracies and misleading implications. “He is mentioning a lot of things that aren’t based on the truth. But that is what happened at the stewards as well. He insinuated a lot of things that don’t make any sense,” Verstappen said.
When asked to clarify what was said behind closed doors in Qatar, Verstappen chose to be cautious, stating, “Not that. I didn’t say it like that. But you know, that’s another thing. That happened behind closed doors, so you don’t have to share everything that was said there and make it more dramatic.”
Turning to the future, Verstappen acknowledged that his previously amicable relationship with Russell appears irreparably strained. He emphasized that he is not focused on fostering friendships in the paddock, implying that competitive integrity takes precedence. “No, but that doesn’t matter. We don’t have to be best friends. That’s not why I’m here, to be best friends with him,” he concluded. “Especially if someone acts like that towards you in front of the stewards. I’m done with him for a while. Qatar is Qatar and we just move on. I gave my opinion about what happened and that’s it. Life goes on.”
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