P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell claimed that Max Verstappen threatened him before the Qatar Grand Prix – but the Dutchman has spoken out against the suggestion.
Max Verstappen firmly denied the accusation that he intended to crash into George Russell during the Qatar Grand Prix, resulting in a grid penalty for the former due to a dispute between the two drivers during Q3. Despite Russell’s claims of Verstappen being hostile, the Dutch driver countered that it was Russell who displayed hostility when they faced the stewards. Verstappen refuted Russell’s statement about threatening to crash deliberately and criticized his rival’s behavior in the stewards’ room. He also dismissed Russell’s characterization of him as a “bully” on the grid and insisted that he is not concerned with being well-liked in the paddock. Despite the penalties and allegations, Verstappen ultimately emerged victorious in the race, emphasizing that his focus is on winning and not on maintaining friendships in the competitive environment of Formula 1.
