Home F1 Russell says nothing to clear with Verstappen as all is ‘fine’

George Russell, Max Verstappen, F1 — BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - APRIL 29: Third placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and 4th placed George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes talk in parc ferme during the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on April 29, 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202304291179 // Usage for editorial use only //

Russell says nothing to clear with Verstappen as all is ‘fine’

05/05/2023

George Russell doesn’t see anything there to be cleared after Baku with Max Verstappen as he feels the chapter is history now.

Tempers flared post the sprint race in F1 Azerbaijan GP as Red Bull’s Verstappen caught up with Mercedes’ Russell in parc ferme and queried about the Brit’s move which caused a hole on the Dutchman’s sidepod. It cost him time and at least one position.

There was no investigation and Verstappen was agitated where he even called Russell ‘Princess George’ and ‘dickhead’ in the heat of the moment. The Brit was calm about the situation and laughed it off then and has kept his stance since then.

Russell will continue racing as he has and feels there is nothing to be cleared with Verstappen as such. “No, I will continue racing the same way as I always would,” he said. “A lot has been said about that coming together but from my side, it was pretty straightforward.

“I went for a move, got the move done and moved on. Obviously he was pretty upset about it but that’s racing and these things happen. And we’re all here to fight so that’s what everyone’s about. Again, from my side there’s no air to be cleared. I’ll welcome and say hello to him if he passes by and I’m sure we’ll shake hands when we bump into each other.

“For me it’s history now and it’s behind us. Yeah, my view to him is still the same, I still respect him, I still think he’s a great driver and obviously things were always said in the heat of the moment but yeah, we move on,” summed up Russell, as Verstappen too joked about the scene being ‘terrible’, but noted all to be fine.

“Terrible! No, of course not. That’s what people maybe like to hear. But no, it’s absolutely fine,” summed up Verstappen. The FIA, interestingly, did not put both the drivers in the same batch of drivers in the Miami press conference but they would have seen each other while going in or coming out.

Here’s what was said after sprint

Here’s Lewis Hamilton on Baku glitches and recovery

Here’s George Russell not happy with Lance Stroll

Here’s Red Bull’s special Miami livery

Here’s whats happening between Red Bull and Ferrari with Laurent Mekies

Here’s Sergio Perez, Christian Horner on Baku win

Here’s Max Verstappen, Christian Horner on pit call and more