Russell Warned He’ll Get His ‘Arse Kicked’ as Verstappen Feud Lingers
The ongoing tension between George Russell and Max Verstappen has yet to settle, with recent discussions warning the Mercedes driver that he may get his “arse kicked” for his war of words with the reigning World Champion.
A conversation on Ziggo Sport, originally centered around the FIA’s crackdown on drivers using foul language, quickly turned into a direct warning for Russell, stemming from his late-season feud with Verstappen in 2023. With both drivers now preparing for the 2024 season, many are questioning whether this rivalry is far from over.
Qatar Grand Prix Controversy: The Spark That Ignited the Feud
The tension between Russell and Verstappen reached a boiling point at the Qatar Grand Prix, where Verstappen was penalized for an incident involving Russell in the final moments of Q3. Although both were on slow laps, Russell was gaining on Verstappen at a faster pace than expected, forcing him to take evasive action.
“Super dangerous by Verstappen,” Russell immediately complained over the radio.
As a result, the stewards handed Verstappen a one-place grid penalty, which left the Red Bull driver fuming. Speaking after the decision, Verstappen expressed his frustration:
“It was honestly very disappointing because I think all of us here 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.”
Verstappen even accused Russell of “lying and putting things together,” further escalating the drama between the two. Russell, in turn, revealed that Verstappen had threatened to “put me on my f****** head in the wall.”
A Feud That Refuses to Fade
While the two eventually had a conversation after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Verstappen stating, “That’s okay, we’ll start again next year and that will be fine,” many believe the animosity between them will continue to simmer beneath the surface.
Pundits and former F1 personalities have weighed in on the situation, with two-time Le Mans winner and former F1 driver Gijs van Lennep making a bold claim during Ziggo Sport’s ‘Langs de Vangrails’ program. Initially addressing the FIA’s stance on swearing, van Lennep pivoted to Russell’s behavior, stating:
“It’s a difficult problem. If it were up to me, they can say anything, they just shouldn’t slander each other. Look at Russell. You think, ‘that’s a nice guy without a beard, a neat guy,’ but in the meantime, behind everyone’s back, that’s the biggest crook of all time.
“You should give that one a huge yellow card.”
He went on to say that Russell’s actions could come back to haunt him:
“He behaves so nicely and thinks he is doing everything right while Max Verstappen is not. That’s the kind of guy I think they should tackle at some point. But he will get his arse kicked, you know. Formula 1 will be something this year…”
Warnings from the F1 Community
Van Lennep is not the only figure in the F1 world who believes Russell has made a dangerous enemy. Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner also suggested that Russell may have made a strategic miscalculation by picking a fight with Verstappen in front of the stewards.
Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, Steiner stated:
“[George] didn’t look the smartest guy there — to pick a fight with Max in front of the stewards, because Max milked that one. And normally, George is not that kind of guy.”
He added that Russell might have been better off targeting the stewards instead:
“I believe in standing up to bullies, but let somebody else do the dirty work for you. I would have picked a fight with the stewards, not with Max Verstappen.”
Will This Feud Resurface in 2024?
While Russell and Verstappen have publicly played down the issue, the competitive nature of Formula 1 means past conflicts often resurface when the stakes are high. With Mercedes eager to challenge Red Bull’s dominance and Russell seeking to establish himself as a serious title contender, any on-track battles between him and Verstappen will undoubtedly be scrutinized.
Verstappen has shown time and again that he does not back down from a fight, and if Russell’s comments still linger in his mind, the 2024 season could see their rivalry flare up once again.
With pundits predicting that Russell may face some backlash from Verstappen, the big question remains: Will the Mercedes driver be able to hold his own against the reigning champion, or will he regret poking the proverbial Red Bull?
