Max Verstappen has not rebuilt bridges with George Russell (Image: Getty)
was asked about the F1 driver dinner photos that showed him at opposite ends of the table to . His response was that ‘you can’t speak to everyone on the table’, but described things as ‘all good’.
Relations between Verstappen and Russell were frayed after qualifying at the Qatar Grand Prix, where the British driver campaigned hard – and ultimately successfully – for the four-time world champion to be handed a one-place grid penalty for a qualifying infringement.
Verstappen responded with some strong comments in the post-race press conference, explaining that he had “lost all respect” for the driver. Russell hit back emphatically in Abu Dhabi, brandishing the man as a “bully” who “cannot handle adversity”.
’s star driver didn’t take these punches lying down and hit back at Russell, accusing the Brit of lying about a post-stewards’ meeting altercation, with the man alleging that the Dutchman threatened to put him on his head “in the f***ing wall”.
Speculation about the state of the pair’s relationship intensified after photos emerged from the traditional annual drivers’ dinner showing Verstappen and Russell on opposite sides of the table. It later emerged that the other stars of the grid cunningly saved the Brit a seat next to his rival, but he declined to take it, instead positioning himself next to .
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George Russell sat away from Verstappen at the driver dinner in Abu Dhabi (Image: Getty)
Offering his thoughts on the dinner, Verstappen said: “We had a lot of fun. I mean, you can’t speak to everyone on the table.” Asked about a photo from the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association in which the pair were spotted next to one another, he simply replied: “It was all good.”
Verstappen was then pressed for more details on the state of relations but wasn’t in the mood to discuss. “I haven’t really talked to him,” he said. “Honestly, I also don’t want to really talk about it anymore, because it’s not really necessary anymore. Everything has been said, really. I’m just looking forward to the break.”
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The feud between the two drivers is not good news for , who has worked hard over the past 12 months to improve relations with the Verstappen family as he looks to lure the four-time world champion to in the coming years.
“George put the line in the sand,” he replied when asked if the feud would affect ’ chance of landing Verstappen. “There is a relationship between two drivers that needs to stay between the two of them and for them to manage. As a team principal, I don’t think I should get involved.”