George Russell Accused of Manipulating Safety Car Situation to Undermine Max Verstappen
In a shocking turn of events at the Canadian Grand Prix, George Russell has found himself in hot water as he faces accusations of orchestrating a controversial move against Max Verstappen during the race behind the Safety Car.
The tension between Russell and Verstappen escalated after a previous incident in Spain, where Verstappen’s collision with Russell led to the accumulation of penalty points, bringing him dangerously close to a race ban. The Dutch driver’s actions in Spain were heavily scrutinized, leading to a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points.
Fast forward to the Canadian Grand Prix, where Russell and Verstappen found themselves battling for position under the Safety Car. Russell, leading the race, made a sudden brake check behind the Safety Car, catching Verstappen off guard and allowing him to overtake. The move sparked immediate controversy, with Russell accusing Verstappen of overtaking under Safety Car conditions.
Although the stewards initially dismissed the incident, Red Bull lodged a protest against Russell, claiming his behavior was unsportsmanlike. Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, raised concerns about Russell’s motives, insinuating that the British driver was trying to undermine Verstappen deliberately.
The drama continued off the track, with Red Bull’s simulator and development driver, Van Buren, expressing his frustration with Russell’s actions. He criticized Russell for creating unnecessary distance between himself and the Safety Car, questioning the legitimacy of his maneuvers.
Despite the protest from Red Bull, the stewards ultimately did not uphold the complaint, leaving the controversy unresolved. Horner revealed that Red Bull had anticipated such tactics from rival teams, suggesting a strategic ploy to exploit Verstappen’s penalty points and potentially get him banned from racing.
The intense rivalry between Russell and Verstappen has added a new dimension to the F1 season, with fans and experts closely watching their every move on and off the track. As the accusations fly and tensions rise, the battle for supremacy between these two drivers shows no signs of cooling down.