Verstappen not surprised by “backstabber” Russell’s comments

Max Verstappen says he is not surprised by what he claims is George Russell misrepresenting their interactions in Qatar, and called the Mercedes driver a “backstabber”.

Verstappen and Russell had a war of words after Qatar qualifying when Verstappen felt Russell was trying to get him penalised for impeding on an out-lap, which netted the Dutchman a one-place penalty to drop behind the Mercedes on the grid.

Verstappen went public with his grievances over Russell’s behaviour, saying he lost all respect for how he was trying to get him in trouble in the stewards’ office.

Their row continued one week on in Abu Dhabi, with Russell calling Verstappen a bully and saying it was time someone stood up against him after claiming the world champion threatened to put him “on his head into the f***ing wall” at the start of the Qatar race.

Probed further on the subject by Motorsport.com on Thursday, Verstappen claimed Russell dramatised their conversation and called the Briton a “backstabber” and a liar.

“That’s already not correct,” he said when asked about the crash threat. “But you know, those things don’t surprise me. I just give my opinion about how he is. Of course, he’s not happy with it, but it’s the same thing he did at the stewards. Lying and putting things together that aren’t correct.

“He’s a backstabber. It doesn’t matter to me. You don’t have to talk too much about people like that, they are just losers.

“We had the last laugh because in the end we won that race. They may have started on pole thanks to their nitpicking at the stewards, but 300 metres later they were behind us again.”

Verstappen was bemused by Russell’s comments on someone having to stand up against the Dutchman’s antics, suggesting that his annoyance at Russell was only triggered by their visit to the stewards and not related to the increased opposition Red Bull faced this year, as Russell suggested.

“Why would anyone have to stand up against me? I did nothing wrong, did I? I just said I’m disappointed about his actions at the stewards, that’s all,” Verstappen refuted.

“It has nothing to do with anything else. I was very relaxed, I had already won my championship. Only, he had to be so dramatic to try and start first. He was screaming to gain one place, for him it can make a big difference.

“He is mentioning a lot of things that aren’t based on the truth. But that is what happened at the stewards as well. He insinuated a lot of things that don’t make any sense.

“It’s typical for him. People can believe whatever they want, it’s just not true. I am always the same person, whether I’m at home, here or at the stewards. You can’t say that about everyone.”

When pressed on what was actually said in Qatar, he replied: “Not that. I didn’t say it like that. But you know, that’s another thing. That happened behind closed doors, so you don’t have to share everything that was said there and make it more dramatic.”

Verstappen suggested his previously cordial relationship with Russell is beyond repair, but said he also wouldn’t lose sleep over the spat as he’s not around to make friends in the paddock.

“No, but that doesn’t matter. We don’t have to be best friends,” he added. “That’s not why I’m here, to be best friends with him. That’s not my goal in the paddock, so I don’t care that much about it.

“Especially if someone acts like that towards you in front of the stewards. I’m done with him for a while.

“Qatar is Qatar and we just move on. I gave my opinion about what happened and that’s it. Life goes on.”

Photos from Abu Dhabi GP Thursday