Verstappen loses respect for Russell after Qatar GP stewards' room incident
Max Verstappen has expressed that he has "lost all respect" for George Russell after their incident during the Qatar Grand Prix qualifying. Verstappen was penalized for allegedly driving too slowly, which he felt was unfair. The conflict arose when Russell took evasive action around Verstappen, who was trying to create space for his final lap. Verstappen accused Russell of misrepresenting the situation to the stewards, leading to his penalty. Despite the tension, Verstappen used his frustration to fuel a strong start in the race, ultimately taking the lead. Team principal Christian Horner noted that Verstappen's motivation was evident during the race following the incident with Russell.