Toto Wolff on Max Verstappen v George Russell clash at F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix: “I think Max races Lewis Hamilton differently”
Verstappen and George Russell’s cla𝔉sh on the first lap of the sprint race at the F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix caused damage to the Red Bull, and led to a fierce war of words afterwards.
Mercedes team principal Wolff admits that it is “understandable” how Verstappenꦐ was angered, but has ma▨de a clear distinction to how the F1 champion battles against his own two drivers.
“Yoᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚu know, I think Max races Lewis differently,” Wolff said.
“But between the same generation drivers? They are all fierce. But it’s alway꧃s been, they know each other.
“They had that situation, probably the first time when they were 10.&nb𒁏sp;
“So, it👍’s racing. I don’t know if it’s 70/30, 60/40 or 50/50, but it’s going to be in that ballpark…
“Fr💟iendly exchanges between drivers is a good entertainment factor. So irrelevant. And yes, that’s a r🍌ace situation.
“You are trying the outside. That’ꩵs never going to be an easy position.
“They collided here to be cold in the caꦰr, and that is certainly suboptimal for your race.
“It’s absolutely🌞 understandable that he’s upset on the other side.
“𓂃George defended the position. And that’s also clear that they’re going to do that.
“So it’s not the first time I guess they had the s✱it꧙uation between each other.”
Verstappen furiously labelled Russell a “d***head” as they spoke face-to-face after the sprint, which Sergio Pere൲z won.
Russell later claimed he was surprised that ♉Verstappen was so angry, and insisted he wasn’t about to back down just because he came up against the world champion.
Verstappen made a dig, calling his rival ‘Pr🐻incess George’ as the tension escalated.
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports foꩵr a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
