P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The war of words between Max Verstappen and George Russell has continued in Abu Dhabi, with the latter making a sensational claim about Red Bull.
George Russell revealed that a quarter of Red Bull’s engineering team sought new opportunities at rival teams after Max Verstappen’s frustration in Hungary this year. Following a tumultuous Hungarian Grand Prix, Verstappen criticized the team’s strategy, sparking tensions. The conflict between Verstappen and Russell escalated in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, stemming from a qualifying incident. Russell claimed that Red Bull employees were looking to leave after the Hungarian race, citing Verstappen’s behavior under pressure. Both drivers have exchanged criticisms, with Verstappen accusing Russell of lobbying for a grid penalty and Russell expressing confusion over Verstappen’s anger. Despite the tension, Russell emphasized that Verstappen is beatable when not in the most dominant car, contrasting their experiences as competitors.
