LUSAIL, Qatar — A fired-up Max Verstappen said he “lost all respect” for rival George Russell after the pair were summoned to the stewards on Saturday night to discuss an incident that resulted in Verstappen being stripped of pole position for Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix.
Verstappen, who went on to win the grand prix despite the penalty, was demoted one grid position behind Russell after the stewards determined he drove “unnecessarily slowly” and impeded Russell during a preparation lap in qualifying.
Russell, who was also on a preparation lap but going much faster than Verstappen, took evasive action as he came across the Red Bull driver in Turn 12.
When the two drivers were summoned to explain the incident to the stewards, Verstappen claimed Russell lobbied hard to ensure a penalty was given.
“I was quite surprised when sitting there in the stewards room, what was all going on,” he said on Sunday.
“Honestly, very disappointing. Because I think we’re all here we respect each other a lot. Of course, I’ve been in that meeting room many times in my life, in my career, with, you know, people that I’ve raced and I’ve never seen someone trying to screw someone over that hard.
“For me, I lost all respect.”
Speaking to Dutch TV, Verstappen added: “I find it ridiculous how we wants to make sure I get a penalty.
“You know what it is? He acts decent in front of the camera here, but when you talk to him personally he is it is a different person.
“I can’t stand that. In that case you can better f— off.”
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said the exchange meant Verstappen was determined to take the lead from Russell into Turn 1 of Sunday’s grand prix.
“Yesterday’s penalty was more based on hysterics from George, who has been quite hysterical this weekend,” he said. “I think there was a little bit of gamesmanship going on.
“Let’s just say Max wasn’t enamoured with the decision. It was a very strange decision because obviously the circumstances of yesterday, both cars were on slow laps.
“I did feel that George and Mercedes made a big meal out of it and it was unprecedented on a slow lap, for Max to end up with a one-place penalty.
“But he converted it from the dirty side of the grid into one of his best starts of the year and was absolutely determined that wherever George was going to brake, he was going to brake later. And converted that grid position, the lead, by the end of Turn 1.”
