George Russell is far from finished with Max Verstappen. After the Dutchman questioned his integrity in Qatar, Russell has now sharply criticized Verstappen’s driving style. The Mercedes driver suggests that his Red Bull rival does not race fairly and therefore unjustly won his first Formula 1 world title. According to Russell, Verstappen should take a leaf out of Lewis Hamilton’s book.
Russell previously stated that Verstappen had threatened to ram him into the wall during the GP in Qatar. Later, he criticized the driving style of the Dutch champion: “I have a lot of admiration for the way he races, but what he showed in 2021 and in his battles with Lando Norris this year were not aggressive maneuvers. That was simply do-or-die, being willing to push your opponent off the track. That’s not how we should be racing in Formula 1.
Verstappen versus Hamilton: A Comparison
Russell continued by suggesting that Max Verstappen should take a leaf out of Lewis Hamilton’s book, one of his earliest rivals in Formula 1. “Lewis Hamilton is the perfect role model that young children should look up to,” the Brit said about his celebrated teammate. “The way he handled the title fight in 2021 – he was tough, he was aggressive, but he was also always respectful and never crossed the line. He took on Verstappen and unjustly lost the championship. Can you imagine what would have happened if the roles were reversed? Michael Masi (race director) would fear for his life.”
“We must not forget that we are the figureheads of this sport,” Russell explained. “For instance, this weekend we have two young drivers at Mercedes who look up to us. The way Verstappen races, I find it uninspiring for the next generation. My eight-year-old nephew is just starting karting and watches every Formula 1 race. He needs to understand that this is not the way it should be.”
