P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell is a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association – and Max Verstappen has suggested his recent comments do not reflect kindly on his position.
Max Verstappen has raised concerns about George Russell’s role as a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) following their verbal sparring in Abu Dhabi. The dispute began in Qatar, where Russell reportedly pushed for Verstappen to receive a grid penalty for a qualifying incident, leading to Verstappen losing respect for Russell. In response, Russell criticized Verstappen, calling him a bully and implying potential danger for ex-F1 race director Michael Masi if the championship outcome favored Verstappen. Verstappen criticized Russell’s behavior, stating it sets a negative example for the sport in dealings with FOM and the FIA. The feud has also involved team bosses Christian Horner and Toto Wolff, with differing accounts of the incidents in question. Despite the controversy, both teams aim to focus on their successful track records rather than getting entangled in personal disputes.
