One of the Mercedes drivers responds to comments made by another Formula 1 driver after the incident during the sprint
the pilot of Mercedes, George Russell, has issued his opinion on comments made by max verstappen after the incident that occurred during the sprint race last weekend. During the opening lap, Verstappen and Russell had contact at Turn 2, causing the Dutch driver to go off track and allowing Russell to overtake him at the next corner.
Despite the fact that the car from Verstappen suffered damage to the bodywork, the Red Bull driver managed to recover and finish in third place. After crossing the finish line, Verstappen approached Russell to discuss the situation and, in the midst of a heated debate, called the Mercedes driver a “jerk”. Similarly, when asked if he expected an apology from Verstappen, Russell replied: “No, I don’t really need one at all,” as reported by The Race.
Russell unhappy with Verstappen’s attitude at a tense moment
However, Russell admitted that he did not like Verstappen’s attitude in that moment of heat and tension. He stated that Verstappen is a two-time champion and the current championship leader, and although personally the comments do not affect him, he considers that words of this type are unnecessary and do not reflect the positive image that the Dutch driver should have.
Besides, Russell expressed his surprise at what the live broadcast showed. of the race, since he had not seen the images when he had his conversation with Verstappen. He commented that he hoped the incident would have a greater impact, since contact between the drivers on the grid is common on the first lap.
The new format incorporated during the Formula 1 weekend
The incident between Russell and Verstappen occurred in a sprint race, which is a new addition to the Formula 1 weekend format. This format consists of a short qualifying session and a shorter race that determines the starting grid for Sunday’s feature race. The excitement and intensity is high during these sprint races, as the drivers fight to gain positions and get a better starting position for the main race.
The pilot’s reaction can be attributed to the frustration of losing positions due to the incident on the first lap. However, Russell has shown maturity in not seeking an apology and saying that Verstappen’s comments are unnecessary. He acknowledges Verstappen’s talent and skill as a driver, but stresses that the words used are not appropriate in top-level sport like Formula 1.