The fallout from the Qatar Grand Prix has sparked one of the most intense rivalries of the Formula 1 season. Max Verstappen calls George Russell a “backstabber”, marking a new low in their relationship, after their clash over a cooldown lap incident and a fiery stewards’ meeting. The reigning world champion didn’t hold back, accusing Russell of lying and dramatising events to influence penalties. With tensions boiling over, their fractured relationship has become a major talking point ahead of the Abu Dhabi finale.
Verstappen on the stewards’ decision: “very weird”
Reflecting on the penalty he received for impeding Russell on a cooldown lap, Verstappen expressed disbelief over the situation. He recounted his perspective on the incident, explaining that he had been trying to stay out of trouble.
“I didn’t even know why I was in there. I was just trying to explain the story. Lando passed me because he was a second behind me on the SC2. He was on colder tyres because he only did a build or had to abort his lap. So he passed me, and I thought, ‘Okay, whatever, I’ll back out. I don’t want to be in anyone’s way.’
“Then Fernando came out of the pits with new tyres. I think it was quite clear that weekend with the new tyres, you have to push hard on the out lap to get temperature. Out of Turn 10, I see him in the mirror flying, and I’m like, ‘Okay, I’ll let him by,’ and then sort myself out.
“Of course, everything slowed up in front because there were quite a few cars. I slowed down as well because I didn’t want to speed up and ruin their preparation. Then I see someone flying in my mirror, acting like the most dangerous situation just happened, and he almost killed himself or something. It was unbelievable.”
Verstappen’s frustration extended to the stewards’ decision, which he felt unfairly punished his efforts to avoid interference.
“We were all on a slow lap. It’s not even like someone was on a fast lap. By actually trying to stay out of trouble, you put yourself in trouble. At that point in the season, almost at the end, I didn’t want to be fighting with anyone. But basically, by doing that, I put myself in a position where I had to go to the stewards. It was very weird.”
George Russell is a “backstabber”
Russell’s counterclaims have only deepened the divide between the two drivers. The Brit accused Verstappen of threatening him before the race, alleging that the Dutchman said he would “put you on your f****** head in the wall.” Verstappen has vehemently denied this, calling it another exaggeration from Russell.
The tension between Verstappen and Russell intensified during the stewards’ meeting. Verstappen accused Russell of lobbying for a penalty in an underhanded manner.
“We’re all racing drivers. We have a lot of respect for each other. We even play sports together. You travel together, and of course, you have moments where you get together, you crash, or whatever. But in my whole career, I’ve never experienced what I experienced in the stewards’ room in Qatar. For me, that was really unacceptable.”
Verstappen went further during an interview with De Telegraaf, calling Russell a “backstabber” and accusing him of fabricating events:
“He invents all sorts of nonsense. With me, you always get the same: here, at home, with the stewards — I don’t change. You can’t say the same about everyone.
“What I can’t stand is the way he attacks me unacceptably with the stewards and then acts like nothing happened the next day, patting me on the shoulder. I think, ‘Stay away from me.’”
Addressing allegations
Russell claimed Verstappen had threatened to crash into him during the Qatar race, but Verstappen dismissed this outright:
“That’s not true; I didn’t say it like that. He’s exaggerating again. I saw it in his eyes that he means it? What is that even supposed to mean? It’s nonsense.”
Verstappen took issue with what he described as Russell’s dramatics:
“George is a backstabber. The way he brings up all this nonsense — he’s just a loser. He lies and cobbles things together that don’t add up. I only voiced my opinion about his behaviour with the stewards. Clearly, he couldn’t handle that.”
When Verstappen hears that the raging Russell has tears in his eyes, he can’t suppress a smile.
“He wasn’t that dramatic at the stewards last week. Maybe next time he will be, I will bring some tissues then.”
Verstappen also addressed the broader implications of the feud, pointing to Mercedes’ frustrations as Red Bull continues to dominate.
“It’s tough for them, especially since we’ve poached many people from Mercedes for our engine program. That causes frustration. But we’re having the last laugh because we won the race last week.
“They started on pole because of their nitpicking with the stewards, but 300 meters later, they were already behind. Everything Russell adds is irrelevant. I was very relaxed with the stewards, having already secured the championship. But he had to be dramatic to start first.”
As the season wraps up, Verstappen’s remarks paint a picture of a fractured relationship with Russell. The world champion remains resolute in his position, emphasising his consistency and dismissing Russell’s claims as exaggerated.
Whether their animosity carries into 2025 remains to be seen, but for now, the Verstappen-Russell feud has become one of the defining stories of the season’s end.
