In Qatar, a surprising feud ignited between Max Verstappen and George Russell during the race weekend, stemming from an incident in the Q3 segment of qualifying. Russell narrowly avoided colliding with Verstappen, who was moving slowly on the track. Both drivers were not on timed laps, but the situation led to Verstappen receiving a one-place grid penalty. This incident frustrated Russell, who became vocal about Verstappen’s aggressive driving.
The conflict escalated beyond the track into a verbal exchange. Russell accused Verstappen of bullying behavior, stating, “People have been bullied by Max for years now… You fight hard, but it’s never personal. But you know, he’s taking it too far now.” Verstappen, however, stood firm in his position, saying, “I meant everything I said and it’s still the same. If I had to do it again, maybe I would have said even more, knowing the outcome of the race result.”
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The tension between the drivers created a noticeable divide among their peers, with many hoping the rivalry would end. During the annual end-of-season driver dinner, an attempt was made to reconcile the two. Red Bull’s newly promoted driver, Liam Lawson, shared insights about the evening during a podcast interview. Lawson revealed that the drivers had concocted a humorous plan to resolve the feud by seating Russell next to Verstappen.
As Lawson recounted, the drivers filled seats strategically, leaving a spot next to Verstappen specifically for Russell. When Russell arrived, the group greeted him enthusiastically, and Verstappen invited him to sit beside him. However, Russell didn’t find the gesture amusing. Instead of sitting next to Verstappen, he picked up his chair and moved to the other side of the table to sit with Lewis Hamilton. Despite Verstappen’s apparent willingness to let go of the past, Russell’s actions suggested lingering resentment.
The feud between Verstappen and Russell came as a surprise, especially given that the championship had already been decided. However, the incident became a topic of significant interest within the F1 community, with fans and analysts debating whether Russell’s grudge was justified or if it was time for him to move on.
Meanwhile, Lawson is set to make his full-season debut with Red Bull Racing in 2025, replacing Sergio Perez, whose struggles in 2024 contributed to his departure. Perez’s performance had been underwhelming, with a significant 285-point gap between him and Verstappen in the standings. This performance gap ultimately cost Red Bull the constructors’ championship, and Perez finished eighth overall in the drivers’ standings.
Lawson’s promotion came after a strong showing in the latter part of the season, where he stepped in for an underperforming Daniel Ricciardo. His efforts earned him a seat alongside Verstappen for the upcoming season. Reflecting on the moment he received the call from Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, Lawson described it as a surreal and joyful experience.
As Lawson prepares for his new role, Isack Hadjar will move up from F2 to fill Lawson’s previous position at AlphaTauri, partnering with Yuki Tsunoda. While Tsunoda missed out on the Red Bull seat, he remains a contender to step up if Lawson underperforms in 2025. Fans and analysts now await to see how Lawson will fare alongside Verstappen and how this shakeup will shape Red Bull’s future.