Max Verstappen has responded to George Russell‘s claims with the Dutchman now labelling the Mercedes driver a ‘backstabber and loser’ as tensions flare ahead of the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The feud, which has escalated since the Qatar Grand Prix, has captivated fans and media alike, with both drivers exchanging sharp words that reflect deep-seated animosity.
Max Verstappen’s recent comments labeling Russell a “backstabber and loser” have only intensified the spotlight on their contentious relationship.
Verstappen said this as he vehemently denied accusations leveled against him by the Mercedes driver, maintaining that he did not threaten Russell and instead suggests that he was misrepresenting their interactions.
The origins of this latest clash can be traced back to the Qatar Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen received a one-place grid penalty for impeding George Russell during qualifying. The incident arose when the Dutchman was accused of driving slowly in front of the Brit while both were on preparation laps in Q3.
This situation led to Russell being vocal about his grievances, which he claimed were not just about the penalty but also about Verstappen’s conduct during their interactions with race stewards.
In a media session leading up to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race, Russell alleged that Verstappen had threatened him, stating that the Dutch driver said he would “put [Russell’s] head in the wall.”
However, this claim has now been vehemently denied by Max Verstappen, who labeled Russell a “backstabber and loser,” asserting that the Mercedes driver was exaggerating the situation and fabricating stories to gain sympathy.
“Yeah, but George is a backstabber,” Verstappen said in Thursday’s press conference at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. “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 behavior with the stewards. Clearly, he couldn’t handle that.
“That’s not true; I didn’t say it like that,” Verstappen added. “He’s exaggerating again. Do you know what I can’t stand? 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.’ 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. But I’m not surprised by him.”
Asked whether he had any regrets about anything he said about George Russell, Max Verstappen went on to claim that he could have said even more if he had wanted.
“No regrets at all, because I meant everything I said,” the Red Bull driver said. “And it’s still the same. If I had to do it again, maybe I would have said even more, knowing the outcome of the race result.
“I still can’t believe that someone can be like that in a Stewards’ room. For me, that was so unacceptable, because I mean, we’re all racing drivers.
“We all 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. You’re not happy.
“In my whole career, I’ve never experienced what I have experienced in the Stewards’ room in Qatar. And for me, that was really unacceptable.”
