Tension broke out between Max Verstappen and George Russell. The Dutchman and the British starred in a controversial action at the start of the sprint race of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. In turn two, Russell touched the world champion as he tried to pass him on the outside, causing damage to the side of his Red Bull.
In the next stop, Verstappen tried to return the play by passing him again on the outside, but the Briton did not give in and Max ended up hitting the wall.
As the race resumed after the safety car caused by Yuki Tsunoda’s accident, Verstappen finally managed to regain position by passing Russell with a masterful pass on the restart. But even that did not help to calm Verstappen’s spirits.
At the end of the race, the Red Bull driver went looking for Russell in the playpen, and reproached him for the touch. “I know you had no grip. No one had grip. You should have left me room!“, asserted Verstappen, who ended the discussion with a forceful:” next time expect the same, face p ***!
George Russell did not respond to Verstappen’s shouts, but he did do so before the microphones, assuring that Max Verstappen himself was to blame for the incident “It was surprising, I had the interior. When he tried to maintain the exterior, he surprised me. When you are on the outside you assume the risk that the driver who is on the inside will go wide. It was my curve. There was nothing more to add”, assured Russell in statements to ‘DAZN’.
