George Russell's escalating feud with Max Verstappen is capturing the attention of the Formula 1 paddock, with suggestions emerging that there may be a political or strategic angle behind the Mercedes driver's actions.
The controversy began in Qatar over a qualifying penalty, where Russell claims Verstappen threatened him with "violence" after the stewards' meeting. The dispute has since drawn in their team bosses, with Mercedes' Toto Wolff accusing Red Bull's Christian Horner of acting like a "yapping little terrier."
Horner responded in Abu Dhabi on Friday, saying, "I'd rather be a terrier than a wolf."
At the centre of the feud, Russell accused Verstappen of being a "bully" and threatening to "put me on my f*cking head in the wall."
"I think Russell's being a bit intense," former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde told Viaplay. "He is really going way too far."
Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko defended Verstappen, claiming the Dutchman was truthful about the incident.
"I believe him when he says that Russell didn't stick to the truth in his portrayal of events," Marko told Sport1. "Max is going to be a father, but that will only make his naturally strong character even stronger. He doesn't let himself be manipulated and always says what he thinks."
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher sided with Verstappen, saying, "Russell reacted too sensitively. He's playing the drama queen a little too much."
McLaren's Lando Norris agreed, noting that Verstappen isn't attempting to intimidate others. "I don't think Max is trying to intimidate anyone. He just says it as it is, even if these days people don't always want to hear the truth," Norris commented.
Reports indicate that the tension carried over to the end-of-season drivers' dinner in Abu Dhabi, where Verstappen greeted Russell with a "Hi George," but Russell responded by moving his chair to the opposite end of the table.
Dutch GT3 driver Indy Dontje suggested that Russell's behaviour might compromise his role as senior director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA).
"That's a bit of a problem now because in principle he should represent the group of drivers, but he has indicated that he has no respect for one of them," Dontje told Ziggo Sport.
Speculation is also growing that Russell's actions might be politically motivated. Dontje hinted that Russell could be preparing for Verstappen's potential move to Mercedes in 2026.
"Maybe he knows that Max is coming that way in 2026," Dontje speculated. "If he ends up sitting next to Max, it's war. Otherwise, he could even take his seat away. He is setting something up."
Red Bull's Marko, however, is keen to move on.
"We have to focus on the car," he said. "If the drivers are fighting with each other, it has nothing to do with fixing the technical problems with our car."
