Mercedes Formula One driver George Russell won’t carry last season’s beef with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen into the new campaign, the Brit has insisted.
The rivals fell out at last season’s Qatar Grand Prix on December 1. The 27-year-old Russell claimed the championship winner had threatened to put his f***ing head in the wall by deliberately crashing into him.
Speaking at the F175 event in London ahead of the 2025 season, however, Russell sounded determined to move past his run-in with the Dutchman.
“We haven’t spoken, (I have) no concerns about him or his driving or anything,” he said.“That happened last year and I want to focus on myself.
“Obviously, things I felt got out of line at the end of last year, and I made it pretty clear that I’m not going to kind of take it. But now it’s 2025 and I’m focused on the job, and the job is to win,” he said.
“So you know, I’m not going to change my approach, fighting him, fighting any other drivers. The goal is the same.”
Asked if there was any lingering bad blood between the duo, Russell was adamant he had moved on from the controversy.
The Dutchman echoed the Mercedes driver’s stance.
“I have no intention to continue any kind of beef in February,” he said.
Verstappen stated that he had lost all respect for his rival after a controversial ending to the qualifying session in Qatar.
The Red Bull driver took pole position ahead of Russell but was handed a one-place grid penalty for driving unnecessarily slowly on a cool-down lap. He and Russell tangled at turn 12, forcing the Brit onto the gravel.
The Mercedes driver complained over the radio that Verstappen’s behaviour had been extremely dangerous and argued his case in front of the stewards.
Verstappen still won the Sunday race, but the Dutchman wasn’t happy with his rival’s conduct.“I’ve never seen someone trying to screw someone over that hard,” he said.
Russell later accused Verstappen of “bullying” his fellow drivers for years.
The Mercedes driver also claimed the four-time world champion had threatened to deliberately crash into him at the Qatar Grand Prix and to “put you on your f***ing head in the wall”.
Russell was not the only driver to tangle with Verstappen last season, with Lando Norris challenging the world champion on several occasions.
The McLaren driver labelled the four-time champion “dangerous”.
Verstappen, however, insisted that he wasn’t bothered by his rivals.
“I prefer to just focus on myself. That’s the only thing I can control, that’s what I’ll always do,” he said.
“When I’m away, I don’t really think about my rivals or whatever. I just live my life. That’s the only thing I can say really.”
Mercedes showed off their new W16 car in a digital launch on Monday as they prepare for pre-season testing and a fresh start after the departure to Ferrari of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Italian 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli has replaced Hamilton, who is now 40, in the line-up alongside Russell.
Verstappen, Russell and Norris will renew their rivalry when the season gets under way in Melbourne, Australia, on March 16.