Max Verstappen Fumes At George Russell After Destroying Car On Opening Lap Of Azerbajan GP Sprint

Richard BoadiApril 30, 2023

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Max Verstappen was left fuming at George Russell after the pair made contact on the opening lap of the Azerbaijan GP Sprint.

Verstappen’s Red Bull was left with a huge hole in its left sidepod after Russell’s Mercedes made contact as the pair battled through Turn Two before the Briton claimed third place at the next corner.

George Russell and Max Verstappen come together at the start of the Sprint, as the Mercedes drive moves up into third

Championship leader Verstappen quickly reclaimed the position on a Safety Car restart, but the damage left him unable to mount a challenge on Charles Leclerc or race winner Sergio Perez.

Verstappen and Russell then had words in parc ferme post-race.

“I had no grip,” Russell was heard saying to Verstappen.

The Dutchman replied: “We all have no grip, we all need to leave a little bit of space.

“I’d expect next time the same you know!” before calling Russell a “d*“

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen says the risk Mercedes driver George Russell took in the first lap was not worth it

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 afterwards, Verstappen said: “I respect all the drivers a lot. It’s a bit of common sense what you do on the first lap.

“You just have to picture yourself. They are off the pace and to risk that much on lap one, I think it’s not very rewarding anyway because I would get him anyway within a few laps.

“There is potential to damage your car as well, not only my car. Of course, I had a hole in my sidepod, but he could also get a puncture and then his race is over as well.

Max Verstappen’s Red Bull was left with a big hole in its sidepod after contact with George Russell

“I thought I was fair in Turn Two. I gave him enough space. I think he locked up. He tells me ‘I had cold tyres’. Well we all have cold tyres, that’s not an excuse.

“I don’t like it when somebody has that kind of reaction: ‘I didn’t do anything wrong’ and just walks off. It is what it is.

“I was not overtaking him. He was overtaking me. I’m just trying to stay out of trouble. It’s two views. It’s my views, it’s his view, whatever…

“[In his position] I would try to fight but not run into someone because that’s not what you want to do.

“That’s something you maybe learn over time. I had my moments as well when I first started in Formula 1 where you make some silly mistakes – a lock-up or potential damage. Maybe it’s just part of the learning curve.”