Verstappen “lost all respect” for Russell after Qatar GP stewards’ room conduct

Max Verstappen has taken aim at George Russell, stating that he has “lost all respect” for the Mercedes driver following their Qatar Grand Prix qualifying contretemps on Saturday. 

The Red Bull driver took particular umbrage with Russell following their summons to the stewards’ room after qualifying, when the championship winner was investigated for allegedly driving unnecessarily slowly prior to their final laps.

Russell took evasive action when encountering a slow Verstappen at Turn 12, while the Dutchman was trying to build a gap to the cars ahead through the triple right-hander before his ultimately denied pole lap.

Verstappen explained that he could scarcely believe that he was being penalised for the incident, and felt like he was taking extra care not to interrupt other drivers’ preparations.

He reckoned that the stewards were not receptive to his explanation, and accused Russell of ‘trying to screw him over’ with his own account.

“I couldn’t believe that I got it. But in a way I was also not surprised anymore in the world that I live in. I’m not happy with it, but at one point or another you have to just turn the page,” Verstappen recalled.

“It wasn’t very enjoyable to see that happen because I think that’s the first time that in a slow lap someone has been penalised. 

“Actually, I just tried to be nice, so maybe I shouldn’t be nice. I didn’t want to screw anyone over to prepare their lap. And by doing that, being nice, basically you get a penalty.

“And that’s what I tried to explain as well, but I just felt like I was talking to a brick wall, so there’s not much that was possible for whatever reason.

“It was clear-cut that around me there were different scenarios going on as well, with people having colder tyres and stuff, so they have to push anyway. I didn’t want to then cause a scene into the last corner and for nobody to have a lap.

“I was quite surprised, when sitting there in the stewards’ room, what was all going on. It was honestly very disappointing, because I think all of us here, we respect each other a lot. 

“I’ve been in that meeting room many times in my life and my career with people that I’ve raced. And I’ve never seen someone trying to screw someone over that hard. For me, I lost all respect.”

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner told Sky that Verstappen converted that annoyance with Russell into his pass on the Mercedes at the start.

He explained that the two had “a moment” on the drivers’ parade; it was suggested that Verstappen had told Russell pre-race that he was going to pass him into the first corner.

“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 Horner.

“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.”