P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell entered a war of words with F1 champion Max Verstappen at the end of the 2024 season.
George Russell has made it clear that he will not allow himself to be intimidated by F1 world champion Max Verstappen following their recent dispute. Despite Verstappen being stripped of pole position in the Qatar GP qualifying before overtaking Russell at Turn 1, tensions escalated at the Abu Dhabi season finale. Russell accused Verstappen of threatening to harm him, leading to a heated exchange involving team principals Toto Wolff and Christian Horner. Russell, now the Mercedes team leader, emphasized that he refuses to back down to Verstappen, expressing a willingness to go head-to-head on the track. With Mercedes aiming for improvement this season, Russell is focused on claiming victory rather than fostering a friendly relationship with the reigning champion. He emphasized his readiness to challenge Verstappen and his determination to fight for his own success.
