George Russell and Max Verstappen are focused on the F1 2025 season ahead rather than their beef, as they share their views on the FIA swearing stance.
After what kicked-off towards the end of the F1 2024 season between Mercedes’ Russell and Red Bull’s Verstappen, it will be one of the awaited topics to be seen in 2025. At the moment, it is only in verbal nature, but the real picture will only come to light when the races start.
For now, both Russell and Verstappen are taking it casually. Their focus is on the F1 2025 season ahead rather their own beef, which heated up last year when the Dutchman named the Brit to be ‘backstabber’ due to the penalty row which cost the Red Bull driver a pole position.
It led to media back and forth where Toto Wolff and Christian Horner got involved too. “No, I haven’t spoken [to him],” said Russell to media at F1 75 press conference. “I have no concerns about him or his driving – that happened last year and I want to focus on myself. But obviously things got out of line at the end of last year, and I made it pretty clear that I’m not going to take it.
“But now it’s 2025 and I’m focused on the job and the job is to win. So I’m not going to change my approach, fighting him, or fighting any other drivers. The goal is the same. I guess we will see how it goes when we got to Melbourne,” summed up Russell, whereas Verstappen kept it in two lines when asked about the same a little later after the Brit’s session.
“Honestly, I have no intention to continue any kind of beef in February,” he said. “I am getting ready for the season so I have nothing to say about that subject.” The larger topic in discussion was FIA’s stance on conduct, behavior and swearing from 2024 into 2025. The recent tighter regulation is certainly to create debates all around and one that F1 drivers aren’t too keen about.
While they all agree that the language should be in check at public events and or official press conference, but they are not too sure about the stringent penalties. “As an individual, like I said last year, it’s obviously going quite far with everything,” said Russell. “I think as drivers, you need to continue to show personality.
“I do think there’s merit in saying there is no need to swear in an environment like this, but ultimately, especially for the guys, when English isn’t their first language, the first thing you get taught are the swear words. The first thing in Italian was, he [Antonelli] was teaching me the swear words. I don’t really know, to be honest, I don’t have much more to say on it than that.”
Verstappen had similar thoughts. Initially in the press conference, he chose not to expand much, but in another session with English and Dutch media like Motorsport Network, Motorsport Week, RacingNews365, Telegraaf and more, the Dutchman opened up while reflecting on what happened to WRC driver Adrien Fourmaux and even a no-penalty to Formula E’s Dan Ticktum.
He hasn’t spoken to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem yet but isn’t afraid to put across his opinion. “I prefer not to speak about that, might get in trouble,” said Verstappen. “Honestly, from my side, I think it’s not necessary to be like that with the rules. I think you need to use a bit of common sense.
“Besides that, I prefer that we actually focus on other topics to try and improve safety, try and improve the overall performance of F1 cars, instead of actually having to focus on all these kinds of things. It’s a bit unnecessary, I think. That’s why I think it’s just a bit much. It also depends a bit on what you all say and who it is directed at. It’s all very tricky. You obviously prefer to spend that money on something else then, like a children’s room, fresh paint.
“You have to be very careful with what you say. It shows. If you have read what that rally driver said, I think yes…. Then indeed you have to keep your mouth shut, but then you won’t get very many interviews anymore either. It’s a complicated matter. I always share my opinion. Like I say now, I think it’s just a bit much. It was not necessary to put it like that, fully written down.”
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