Despite their enmity born in Qatar, Max Verstappen and George Russell had dinner with the other drivers in Abu Dhabi for the end of the F1 season. But the British Mercedes driver was careful not to get too close to the Dutch multiple world champion.
The knives were sharp. Like every year to close the Formula 1 season, the traditional drivers' dinner took place in Abu Dhabi. If Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll, Nico Hülkenberg and Kevin Magnussen were missing, according to the photos circulating on social networks, Esteban Ocon was present, although he was deprived of the last race by Alpine. Above all, George Russell and Max Verstappen were there. However, the tone rose a few hours earlier in front of the journalists.
“Russell moved his chair”
Since an incident on the track in Qatar, then a heated discussion in the stewards' office, the two men have been insulting each other through the media. On the eve of the start of testing in Abu Dhabi, George Russell was outraged at having been threatened with having his head “smashed against the wall” by Max Verstappen. “He's lost my respect,” the British Mercedes driver said. Nothing that moves the quadruple world champion. “I have no regrets, because I meant everything I said. And that’s still the case. If I had to do it again, maybe I would have said even more,” said the Dutchman press conference.
However, George Russell and Max Verstappen therefore agreed to meet in the same room for dinner. Which made Lando Norris laugh. “Yes, the two people you're thinking of were sitting as far apart as you can imagine,” the McLaren driver joked on Instagram.
A tasty anecdote even emerged. According to journalist Adam Cooper, George Russell arrived last at this dinner. The other drivers, teasingly, would have left him a free place… next to Max Verstappen. “He refused to take the seat and moved his chair elsewhere…” says the reporter.
