George Russell has spoken out concerning the standing of his relationship with Max Verstappen after their clashes final 12 months.
A bust-up on the F1 Qatar Grand Prix in late-2024 noticed Pink Bull’s Verstappen and Mercedes’ Russell proceed their confrontation.
Now Russell has offered an replace – and it appears that evidently rebuilding their friendship is off the playing cards.
They “hadn’t spoken” over the winter interval, Russell confirmed on the F1 75 Stay occasion.
He added that he didn’t plan on smoothing issues over with Verstappen.
“I’ve acquired no issues about him or his driving.
“That occurred final 12 months, and I need to concentrate on myself.
“Clearly issues, I felt, acquired out of line final 12 months. I made it fairly clear that I am not going to take it.
“Now in 2025, I’m targeted on the job. The job is to win.
“I will not change my method combating him or some other drivers. The purpose is identical.”
Verstappen was additionally requested at Tuesday’s F1 75 Stay occasion about his relationship with Russell.
However he answered: “It is high quality, all good.”
The row in Qatar occurred after Verstappen and Russell have been summoned to the stewards room, with the Pink Bull driver investigated for driving slowly.
Later, Verstappen insisted he “misplaced all respect” for Russell, including: “I’ve by no means seen somebody attempting to screw somebody over that tough.”
Russell hit again saying: “Somebody wants to face as much as a bully like this.”
Russell v Verstappen II in 2025?
Inevitably Russell and Verstappen will race wheel-to-wheel in some unspecified time in the future within the new season.
Russell’s declare that he is not going to again down in opposition to the aggressive Verstappen might trigger fireworks.
A lot will rely on the competitiveness of their Mercedes and Pink Bull machines.
These producers are anticipated to lag behind McLaren, and probably Ferrari too, within the earliest phases of the F1 2025 season.
Russell is getting into barely new territory as Mercedes’ senior driver, after Lewis Hamilton’s exit and Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s arrival.
Verstappen, in the meantime, is gunning for a fifth F1 drivers’ title in a row nevertheless it may be his hardest process but because of the competitiveness between the highest groups.
