Russell surprised by Verstappens anger after Baku clash: Im here to fight

June 26, 2024

George Russell was “very surprised” by Max Verstappen’s anger over their first-lap clash in Formula One sprint race in Azerbaijan, the Mercedes driver said Saturday.

Russell and Verstappen’s cars made contact on the opening lap of the 17-lap sprint race in Baku as they went side-by-side through Turn 3, with Russell moving ahead into third place.

Verstappen complained to his engineer on the radio about the move after being informed the floor of his Red Bull car was damaged, saying: “I don’t understand how he can keep the position and is damaging my car? It’s kind of ridiculous.” Camera footage of Verstappen’s car after the race showed a large hole in his left sidepod. Verstappen eventually regained the position from Russell and finished the sprint in third place, for six points. Russell finished fourth, for five points.

The incident was neither noted nor investigated by the stewards but after the race, Verstappen went over to the Mercedes driver to complain about the move, feeling he’d been squeezed on the outside.

George Russell reflects on the opening lap with Verstappen 😅#AzerbaijanGP #F1Sprint pic.twitter.com/ar7jEZTBvX

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 29, 2023

In audio picked up of the exchange, Russell told Verstappen there was low grip on-track on the opening lap. As he walked away, Verstappen told Russell to “expect next time the same,” then called him a “d—head.”

“When he came over to me, I thought he was coming over to say good battle, nice fight,” Russell said after the race. “I was very surprised how angry he was.” He said there were “a lot of f—s, and what the f—. I didn’t really hear much more than that.” (Russell had kept his racing helmet on.)

Verstappen explained in the post-race press conference that he thought he did leave Russell enough space on the inside of the corner. “But apparently it’s hard to not hit a Red Bull car, I guess, for them,” he added, appearing to refer to Mercedes.

In a separate interview with F1, Verstappen said Russell was “very good at explaining and creating excuses. Everyone had cold tires, and I think I had every right to be on the outside. I gave him enough space. But you need two guys to work together to make the corner.”

Russell said he thought Verstappen was “taking a huge risk” by positioning his car on the outside of the corner, given how far his Mercedes was up the inside. “He was trying to hold the position, but equally, I’m here to fight,” he said.

“I’m here to win. I’m not just going to wave him by because he’s Max Verstappen in a Red Bull.”

Max Verstappen did not hold back on his thoughts regarding Russell's Lap 1 moves 😬#AzerbaijanGP #F1Sprint pic.twitter.com/Fc0W9fTUMU

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 29, 2023

Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ team principal, said it was “absolutely understandable that (Verstappen is) going to be upset,” but that it was “also clear” that Russell was going to defend the position.

Through 2021, Verstappen and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton had multiple on-track clashes as they fought for the world championship, a battle Verstappen ultimately won.

Asked if he thought Verstappen raced Mercedes cars differently, Wolff replied: “No, I think Max races Lewis differently. But between the same generation drivers, they’re all fierce. They know each other so well, that’s why I said they had this situation probably the first time when they were 10.”

(Photo: Dan Mullan – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

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