P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Fernando Alonso has jumped to the defence of George Russell, as the relationship between the Mercedes driver and Max Verstappen continues to deteriorate ahead of the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Russell and Verstappen are embroiled in a heated exchange following the Qatar GP, with accusations of different behaviors and disrespectful remarks. The tension escalated as Verstappen stood by his criticism, stating he has “no regrets at all” for his comments on losing respect for Russell. Russell retaliated by claiming Verstappen threatened him with physical harm after a stewards’ meeting. F1 veteran Alonso attributed the conflict to inconsistent steward decisions during race weekends. Alonso expressed support for Russell, disagreeing with Verstappen’s accusations of having different personas, while highlighting the need for more consistency in stewarding decisions. Alonso expressed hope for improvement with the new F1 Race Director and changes in the stewards’ room to ensure fair and consistent outcomes.
