George Russell jokes Michael Masi would’ve ‘feared for his life’ if Max Verstappen lost 2021 title in Abu Dhabi
George Russell recalled the 2021 season and noted that the then race director Michael Masi would have feared for his life had Max Verstappen lost then.
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Michael Masi (via Getty), Max Verstappen (via Red Bull), George Russell (in circle, via XPBimages)
Max Verstappen was the center of a disappointing situation at the 2024 Qatar GP after losing the pole position with a one-place grid penalty. George Russell had reportedly dragged the case longer and caused a penalty. As a result, Verstappen had commented in the heat of the moment as Russell took offense to it. The 26-year-old recalled the controversial 2021 season after witnessing the issues this year.
George Russell put forth his view on why Max Verstappen was so vocal and didn’t hesitate to ill-comment publicly. Russell believed that the reason for this was that Verstappen was ‘enabled’ to do so as no one stood up to him. The 26-year-old recalled the Abu Dhabi 2021 debacle and how Lewis Hamilton stood up after losing the championship.
I think he’s been enabled because nobody’s stood up to him. Lewis stood up to him in 2021 and Lewis lost that championship unfairly.
George Russell told GPblog.com
The 2021 season caused the then Race Director Michael Masi to be fired from the sport due to the controversies. However, Russell reckoned that if the roles were reversed and Verstappen lost the championship, the situation would be different. The Briton meant that Masi would be ‘feared for his life’ due to the harsh comments from the Dutchman and his supporters.
Could you imagine the roles being reversed and Max losing that championship in the manner that Lewis lost that championship? Masi would be fearing for his life.
George Russell added
George Russell ‘aspires’ to be like Lewis Hamilton and not Max Verstappen
George Russell accepted the fact that Verstappen’s comments were maybe due to being in the heat of the moment. However, the two drivers met up at the drivers’ parade and still had a ‘seething chat’ with one another. Despite the Dutchman being a four-time world champion, Russell reckoned that he wanted to be more like Lewis Hamilton and not the former.
I knew that was a bit of a heat of the moment thing. But when I went to see him the next day at the driver’s parade, I saw it in his eyes that he meant it. He’s a four-time world champion! When I compare his actions to the ones of Lewis, Lewis is the sort of world champion who I aspire to be like.
George Russell noted
The 2024 season has put forth some highly questionable moments as the FIA continues to receive flak. Massive changes are in queue for the coming season as the governing body looks to improve conditions for the teams and drivers. Hence, 2025 will be extremely interesting to witness ahead of the regulation changes in the subsequent season.
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Aditya Pandya
(1464 Articles Published)