Red Bull starlet Max Verstappen has been on the receiving end since his Austin GP face-off with Lando Norris. The Dutchman, who is already enduring a rough patch, has been scrutinized by F1 experts for an extra-aggressive approach. Verstappen wants to extend his world title reign, while Lando Norris is consistently cutting down his lead. To make matters worse, the RB20, on a string of shoddy performances, smeared in a handful of technical issues. As a result, the Dutchman is left with no choice but to fight an aggressive battle, resulting in a Mexican GP penalty and backlash.
The F1 rivals are also criticizing his tactics, tagging them as unsporting. McLaren’s boss, Zak Brown, also called out Verstappen for an unsafe approach that puts others at risk.George Russell has now weighed in on the intensifying one-on-one battle between Norris and Verstappen, which has recently taken a contentious turn.
George Russell Brands Max Verstappen’s Racing Approach As Unsporting and Unfair
George Russell joined the conversation about Max Verstappen’s intense on-track battle with Lando Norris, which recently turned contentious. During the Austin GP, the race nearly transformed into a one-on-one contest, with Verstappen and Red Bull primarily focused on countering Norris’s strategies. Initially, Red Bull attempted to gain the upper hand through strategic maneuvers, but when that didn’t fully succeed, Verstappen’s defensive tactics came under scrutiny.
The following race in Mexico saw tensions escalate further as Verstappen forced Norris off track twice, resulting in two separate 10-second penalties for the Dutch driver. Verstappen later attributed these penalties to biased officiating, but Russell openly criticized Verstappen’s actions, deeming them unsporting.
Reflecting on his own race in Mexico, where he finished just behind teammate Lewis Hamilton, Russell was questioned about Verstappen’s moves. He described them as unacceptable, noting that recent maneuvers on the track were crossing the line from intense racing to unsporting behavior. Russell remarked that, while it’s always challenging and fair to race against Hamilton, certain actions on track, especially from Verstappen, were increasingly bordering on unfair. He highlighted Verstappen’s second incident with Norris, noting that he hadn’t seen such an aggressive move since the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix, underscoring how the rivalry between Norris and Verstappen has amplified racing tensions this season.
George Russell Happy With FIA’s Strict Action
George Russell approved the penalties during recent races, emphasizing that such incidents shouldn’t go unchecked. He acknowledged that he was pleased to see decisive action taken against questionable maneuvers, suggesting that this sets a precedent for future races. Russell anticipates that similar behaviors, like those seen in Austin and Mexico City, will face stricter scrutiny, particularly in the upcoming Brazilian GP. His comments underline a belief that the stewards are taking steps to ensure fair racing, aiming to deter any unsporting conduct on track.
