George Russell and Max Verstappen have been concerned in a disagreement in direction of the tip of the 2024 Components 1 season after their incident on the Qatar Grand Prix.
Ted Kravitz has revealed that George Russell approached him earlier than the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to interrupt a written rule and escalate the row between the Mercedes driver and Crimson Bull rival Max Verstappen.
Russell and Verstappen got here to blows following an incident throughout qualifying throughout final yr’s Qatar Grand Prix the place the 2 drivers almost collided on their preparation laps. 4-time world champion Verstappen was investigated by the stewards for driving unnecessarily slowly and each drivers have been summoned to the stewards.
Verstappen then claimed that Russell went out of his method to make sure a penalty was issued, with the Dutchman dropping one place on the grid whereas his rival was promoted to pole place.
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Russell known as Verstappen a bully and he additionally alleged that the Crimson Bull ace threatened to “put me on my f***ing head within the wall”. Verstappen then denied he made them feedback and stated Russell was “exaggerating” it once more, suggesting that he introduced himself very in a different way when the cameras weren’t pointed at him.
The row continued into the season finale in Abu Dhabi one week later, the place Christian Horner and Toto Wolff obtained concerned. Russell ended up beating world champion Verstappen by lower than a minute within the ultimate race.
Now, Sky Sports activities reporter Kravitz has detailed that Russell approached him within the TV pen on Thursday on the Yas Marina Circuit and requested him to make sure he gave his facet of the state of affairs in his pre-race interview.
Writing in his new guide entitled Notes from the Pit Lane, Kravitz stated: “Every week after Qatar, when Russell arrived on the Abu Dhabi observe, he was in no temper to let the Verstappen state of affairs lie. I might spent the day interviewing drivers on the TV pen, however hadn’t but heard any earth-shattering tales.
“A minute earlier than his time slot, up strode George. He known as me over to the sting of the pen; ‘Be sure to ask me a follow-up query’. ‘What do you imply’? I requested. [He replied] ‘I will give it again to Max. I’ve had sufficient of him bad-mouthing me within the press, and I will name him out on his bullying ways.
“I do know you are solely imagined to ask me one query, however by no means thoughts that, I am up for as many questions as you want’.
“Earlier than checking to see if he was carrying a Drive to Survive microphone, I requested him if he was completely positive he wished to escalate what was successfully final yr’s story, and begin a brand new battle with Max – by no means a straightforward battle to win. He stated he was constructive, and away he went.”
The state of affairs would cool off over the winter break earlier than the present marketing campaign obtained underway in March. Russell, who received his third-ever race on the Singapore Grand Prix earlier this month, is fourth within the drivers’ standings with Verstappen up in third and 36 factors in entrance.
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