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Max Verstappen and George Russell’s heated exchange has escalated ahead of the conclusion of the Formula One season in Abu Dhabi after the Mercedes driver accused the world champion of threatening to “put my f***ing head in the wall.”
The Dutch driver was left furious at the Qatar Grand Prix during qualifying after being handed a one-place demotion for blocking Russell.
Verstappen hit out at Russell for “lying,” but the Briton has responded by revealing an angry threat from the four-time world champion in the aftermath of the incident.
Elsewhere in Abu Dhabi, Lewis Hamilton has spoken ahead of his final race of his Mercedes career before moving to Ferrari next year, admitting he has “struggled at handling emotions” in his final year with the Silver Arrows.
Follow all the latest updates and build-up to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix below:
George Russell reveals Max Verstappen threat to ‘put my f***ing head in the wall’
George Russell has revealed Max Verstappen threatened to “put my f***ing head in the wall” as their war of words escalated ahead of the final race of the Formula One season.
The Mercedes driver accused the Red Bull star of deliberately pushing to crash into him during the Qatar Grand Prix.
The Dutch driver missed out on pole position a week ago after being sent to the stewards for blocking Russell during qualifying, with both men sent to discuss the moment. Verstappen ended up with a one-place grid penalty to drop down one spot and hand Russell pole position, though the four-time world champion would still win the race.
Following the incident, Verstappen said that he had “lost all respect” for the Mercedes driver and behaving differently in front of the cameras to behind the scenes, telling Dutch television: “You know what it is? He acts decent in front of the camera here, but when you talk to him personally, he is a different person … I can’t stand that. In that case you can better f*** off.”
But Russell hit back on Thursday, stating: “I find it all quite ironic seeing as Saturday night he said he was going to purposefully go out of his way to crash into me and ‘Put me on my f***ing head in the wall’.
Read the full story below:
Jack Rathborn5 December 2024 12:45
Ferrari not concerned by Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes struggles
Hamilton finished second in a Mercedes one-two with winner George Russell, who started on pole position, in Las Vegas on 24 November.
Hamilton collected two penalties on Sunday – a five second one for a false start and the other a drive-through for speeding in the pit lane – as well as a puncture.
At one point, clearly fed up, he sought to retire the car but his race engineer refused the request because the drive-through penalty would have been carried over to Abu Dhabi if left unserved.
The Briton, who turns 40 in January, has been out-qualified 18-5 by Russell this season and 5-1 in the sprints but has also won two grands prix.
“I know I’ve still got it,” Hamilton said on Saturday. “It’s just the car won’t go faster. But I definitely know I’ve got it. It is not a question in my mind.”
Lawrence Ostlere5 December 2024 13:16
Ferrari not concerned by Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes struggles
Lewis Hamilton’s struggles at Mercedes are not giving his future employers Ferrari any concern, according to team boss Fred Vasseur.
The seven-times Formula One world champion finished only 12th in Qatar on Sunday, the 39-year-old Briton’s last race before his farewell to Mercedes in the Abu Dhabi season-ender next weekend.
He also finished 10th in Brazil last month, and 11th in the Saturday sprint there.
Asked after the race at Lusail if he was worried about Hamilton’s form going into next year, Ferrari’s Vasseur replied: “Not at all.
“I have a look at the 50 laps that he did in Vegas, starting in P10 (10th place), finishing on the gearbox of Russell, I’m not worried at all.”
Lawrence Ostlere5 December 2024 12:55
Ocon says Alpine exit ‘not how I wanted things to end’
Esteban Ocon said his departure from Alpine ahead of Formula One’s Abu Dhabi season-ender this weekend was not how he had wanted his time at the Renault-owned team to end.
Alpine have replaced the Frenchman with Australian reserve Jack Doohan who will be making his race debut at Yas Marina on Sunday.
Ocon is joining Haas next season and the switch was presented by Alpine as freeing Ocon to test for the U.S.-owned team next week.
“To the hundreds of hard-working men and women at Enstone and Viry, I apologise that I will not be able to come see you in person and have a proper farewell,” the Frenchman said on Instagram, recognising it had not been an easy year.
“As you know, the plan was always to race one last time this weekend and personally say goodbye to you all next week. I was looking forward to both of those things.
“This is not how I wanted things to end. That said, the world of F1 is small and I am sure I will see many of you again soon.
“I would also like to wish nothing but great things to my friend Jack as he takes this next big step in his career at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.”
Alpine are fighting for sixth place in the championship, the team five points clear of Haas.
Lawrence Ostlere5 December 2024 12:24
Verstappen accuses Russell of ‘lying’ to F1 stewards as heated row escalates
Max Verstappen has accused George Russell of “lying” to the stewards in Qatar after the pair had a heated exchange following an incident on track:
Lawrence Ostlere5 December 2024 11:49
F1 driver press conference: Max Verstappen on Sergio Perez’s Red Bull struggles
“It’s very difficult to pinpoint [why Perez has been so far behind]. Our car has not been the easiest to drive, even more so for Checo for his driving style. When others are closing up, every little detail makes a difference to where you end up, where you qualify. It’s difficult to comment for him on the way things have gone, but I can tell you that the car has been all over the shop. For sure that didn’t help Checo in general.
“He’s always been a great team player, I’ve always enjoyed working with him at every grand prix. There’s nothing negative to say about him, we get on super well. Of course it’s not nice when he’s struggling to get results.”
Lawrence Ostlere5 December 2024 11:45
F1 driver press conference: Max Verstappen on Dutch GP
Verstappen reacts to the news that the Dutch Grand Prix will be no more after 2026: “Of course, it’s something that I’m sad about. On the other hand, I’m very proud of what they have done. When I started in Formula One, I would never have imagined that we would go back to Zandvoort. I’m very excited for the last two races. They said they want to go out with the bang so I’m very excited to see that.”
Lawrence Ostlere5 December 2024 11:40
Hamilton reflects on ‘very emotional year’ ahead of final F1 race for Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton has spoken to the media ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he will take to the start line for the last time in Mercedes colours:
Lawrence Ostlere5 December 2024 11:28
F1 driver press conference: Lewis Hamilton on Zandvoort axing
Hamilton is asked about the news that the Dutch Grand Prix will be cut from the calendar after 2026 after failing to match the increasing costs demanded by the sport’s authorities to host – with the emergence of Saudi Arabia and other new venues able to pay substantial figures to stage a grand prix.
“I’m very sad to lose Zandvoort. The fans make the sport what it is and they are always amazing there, whereas there are some other races – I’m not going to name them but you know which they are – where lots of fans don’t come out to watch, but financially they can cover whatever the cost is. The business of the sport is doing very, very well, and I think we’ve got to make sure we hold on to the heritage races, and Zandvoort is one of those.”
Lawrence Ostlere5 December 2024 11:23
F1 driver press conference: Lewis Hamilton speaks
Hamilton on his emotions leaving Mercedes: “The briefings that we’ve had this week, you think these are the last moments with the team, it’s not the greatest [feeling]. Mostly, I’m proud of what we’ve achieved.”
His abiding memory? “The smiles, when we’ve had the success. One engineer, our first win in Australia 2014, I remember him being in tears when we’re on the podium. The emotions we had at Silverstone this year. It’s all the good bits. I’m incredibly proud and so grateful to every individual both here at the track and back at the factory, who’ve worked tirelessly.”
Compare to leaving McLaren? “I don’t really remember the final days [at McLaren]. It definitely wasn’t as painful and difficult as this year has been. This one’s much more emotional because I’ve been with the team so long and we’ve been through so much together.”
Lawrence Ostlere5 December 2024 11:13
