F1 rivalries heated up: Russell and Verstappen's ongoing saga continues

19:54, 06 Jun

Updated: 20:26, 06 Jun

bySavannah Lenz

During the Spanish Grand Prix, George Russell and Max Verstappen collided when Verstappen was attempting to give Russell the position back. After the race, Russell explained if he felt targeted.

The Spanish Grand Prix is not the first time Verstappen and Russell have had issues. At the end of the 2024 season, the two shared heated moments during the Qatar Grand Prix due to Verstappen receiving a one-place penalty after they met with the stewards over an impeding situation.

Does Russell feel targeted?

Russell answered whether or not the move during last weekend's race felt targeted.

He admitted, “I honestly don't know, to be honest. It just seemed all very strange and bizarre and I really don't know what was going through his mind.”

“As I said, it's something that you've seen before in simulated races in go karting, but never in F1."

Max Verstappen, George Russell pitlane Barcelona

Russell continued, “It doesn't really make sense to deliberately crash into somebody and risk damaging your own car, risk a penalty. And he could have come back, fighting for the podium.”

“Charles really dropped off at the end, pushing those soft tyres too hard. Obviously, he was probably frustrated being on the hard tyres, lost out in the beginning, but it was still five laps to go.”

Regardless of the incidents between the two, Russell mentioned, “As I said, I'm not going to lose sleep ever.”