29 April 2023 , 14:17
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Max Verstappen rushed to confront Formula 1 rival George Russell after the Sprint race as the Red Bull star made his feelings about their on-track battle perfectly clear.
Russell had started one place behind the defending champion on the grid but got a better start off the line. They were side-by-side heading into the first corner, but Verstappen was not willing to give up the place easily.
So over several corners they scrapped, with Russell making contact with the side of the Red Bull before Verstappen made contact with the wall. It caused damage to the Dutchman's car while the Brit eventually moved past.
Verstappen fumed over the radio, telling race engineer Gienpiero Lambiase: "He tapped me. That's how he got the position. F***ing report it!" When he moved back past Russell later in the race, he brought it up again as he pointed out: "I know how to do that."
But clearly he had not got all his rage out. After jumping out of his car, he removed his helmet and waited for Russell to join him in parc ferme before letting the Brit know how he felt. TV cameras caught the moment, as Russell apologised while still removing his gloves.
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"We all have no grip, we all need to leave a little bit of space," said Verstappen with a smirk. As Russell walked away after saying sorry, Verstappen shouted after him: "Next time you can expect the same. D***head."
Max Verstappen and George Russell made contact as the Mercedes racer overtook in Baku (Sky Sports)The cameras could get up close to Verstappen's car to show that a large chunk of the sidepod was missing as a result of the collision. The crash damage may have played a role in how the Dutchman struggled to catch Charles Leclerc in the late stages of the Sprint despite the Ferrari racer struggling with his tyres.
Verstappen continues his venting in the post-race interview, and said: "I just don't understand why you need to take so much risk on lap one. To understeer into my sidepod and create a hole...
"We all have cold tyres and it's easy to lock up, but his beautiful way of explaining, 'Oh mate, I locked up, look at the onboard'. It doesn't make sense. It's fine, though, we still got to P3 and good points. It is what it is."