Could Russell’s row with Verstappen spill over into F1 2025?

George Russell’s extraordinary row with Max Verstappen throughout the ultimate two grands prix of the 2024 Formulation 1 season was as explosive because it was unprecedented.

Though the tip of the marketing campaign reduce off the discourse, there may be each probability that it’ll erupt once more all through the 2025 season.

In a remarkably trustworthy and wide-ranging interview with Autosport, Russell defined how he’s studying to face up for himself and that features criticising the driving fashion of the reigning, four-time world champion Verstappen.

So, regardless of having simply turned 26, Russell is coming of age and there’s a new-found confidence inside him as he prepares for a brand new season as Mercedes’ lead driver following Lewis Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari.

Russell is a principled driver and says it’s these values he holds in such excessive regard which have drawn him into battle with Verstappen.

“I’m coming into my seventh yr of F1 now and also you do begin to recognise the place you’re,” he mentioned.

“You realise your individual voice and the platform you’ve got and the affect you can also make. I assumed it was vital for myself, as a result of I am not going to simply accept being pushed round and disrespected in that regard so brazenly and publicly.

“That was the principle driving pressure behind it. I’ve seen many individuals in life push and shove individuals round to get what they need. You want any person to face as much as people like that – and no one has executed that in anyway.”

Russell goes on to elucidate how his frustration was a consequence of seeing Verstappen’s clashes with McLaren’s Lando Norris in Mexico and Austin, whereas there was additionally the contact that despatched Oscar Piastri right into a spin on the opening lap in Abu Dhabi.

“I used to be a bit pissed off watching the season play out on the entrance final yr,” he added. “How Max was driving with regard to being more durable and type of bullying others round, exhibiting his aggression in a fashion that no one stood as much as. 

“The one driver was Lewis; he was the one particular person to try this in ’21 and that was clearly such an important season. 

“I used to be pissed off watching the game final yr, when there ought to have been such an important title battle, and it was not, so these feedback in Qatar tipped me over the sting.

“I simply considered the whole lot that had occurred, from the on-track driving antics to the place he was speaking off observe. It wasn’t acceptable and one thing wanted to be executed.”

George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Crew, with Sir Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Crew, Sergio Perez, Pink Bull Racing, and Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, throughout the 2024 drivers line up

Picture by: Andy Hone

By taking such a stance and calling out Verstappen’s behaviour, Russell discovered himself within the firing line and never solely from the world champion, as Pink Bull boss Christian Horner labelled Russell “hysterical”. 

He revealed that members of his crew acquired on-line abuse from “Dutch followers”.

He mentioned: “I’ve received to be trustworthy. I did not see any of it myself, however I do know there was a number of criticism on the market. I do know members of my crew have been receiving emails from Dutch followers. However I feel that is part of sport and life, actually, is not it.

“That is one thing we settle for. And you may select to learn it and let it have an emotional affect on you, even in the event you snigger on the feedback, that has an affect on you. 

“So I simply have this view and mentality that even with the optimistic feedback, does it truly make me drive sooner? In all probability not, and there are extra unfavorable than optimistic more often than not, so I do actually try to keep away from it.”

Russell is unwavering in his opinion and with Verstappen unlikely to alter his driving fashion for this season, the chances are the pair will likely be drawn into battle once more.

The total unique interview with George Russell is the duvet function for the brand new month-to-month difficulty of Autosport journal. For extra premium content material, check out the March 2025 difficulty and subscribe today.