15/06/2025 07:45
George Russell has told Max Verstappen it 'would not be the end of
the world' if the four-time F1 champion was handed an F1 race ban.
In a remarkable twist to the ongoing saga between the two rivals,
Russell and Verstappen will line up on the front row of the grid
for the Canadian Grand Prix at Montreal's Circuit Gilles
Villeneuve. The scenario comes a fortnight after Verstappen was
punished for causing a collision in the Spanish Grand Prix by
running into the side of Russell's Mercedes towards the end of the
race. The Red Bull driver was handed a 10-second penalty that
relegated him to 10th at the chequered flag, but crucially three
points on his super licence to take him to 11, and one away from a
ban. In qualifying, Russell delivered an astonishing lap of
1:10.899s, finishing 0.060s clear of Verstappen, and teeing up what
could be a battle royal on the run down to the first chicane. Given
the scenario, Russell was asked whether the fight with Verstappen
would be any different given the risk at play for the 27-year-old.
"I don't think any driver goes out looking to crash into somebody
and get penalty points on their license," said Russell, speaking to
the media, including RacingNews365 . "Max is one of the best
drivers. There's no reason for him to race any differently, and I'm
not sitting here thinking he's going to give us more room. If
anything, probably the opposite, to try and prove a point, so I'll
be keeping an eye. "Ultimately, we're all here to win. You're not
going to do something that's going to jeopardise yourself from the
race. "It's a busy season as well, and if you get a race ban, you
get a race ban, and you spend some time at home. It's not ideal,
but it's not the end of the world." Championship leader Oscar
Piastri, who starts from third on the grid, offered a more
simplified view. "For me, I'm not going to race any differently.
I'm not going to take any less risk, any more risk. I'm certainly
not gonna do anything different. I'll race as I always race."
