Breaking news:Christian Horner fires back at George Russell after ‘unpleasant’ Red Bull’s…read more
Christian Horner fires back at George Russell after ‘unpleasant’ Red Bull’s…read more
Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, has strongly responded to accusations made by George Russell concerning the morale within Max Verstappen’s team. Russell, the Mercedes driver, had earlier suggested that Verstappen’s behavior during the Hungarian Grand Prix led to a significant decrease in team morale, allegedly prompting a wave of staff departures from Red Bull’s engineering department.
The comments were made during a heated exchange at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December. Russell claimed that Verstappen’s conduct, particularly during the Hungarian race, demonstrated his inability to cope with pressure when he was not driving the fastest car on the grid. Specifically, Russell referred to the incident in Budapest, where Verstappen collided with Lewis Hamilton, as a clear example of the Dutch driver’s poor temperament in challenging circumstances.
Russell stated, “I’m not questioning Max’s driving abilities, but the moment he doesn’t have the fastest car, like in Budapest, he crashes into Lewis, lashes out at his team, and completely loses control.” He went on to add that, following that race, he heard from sources that around 25 percent of Verstappen’s engineering team started seeking new opportunities. Some engineers reportedly submitted applications to rival teams like Mercedes, McLaren, and Aston Martin, citing their inability to work with Verstappen under those conditions.
This accusation from Russell adds to the growing tension between him and Verstappen, which has been a notable subplot in Formula 1 in recent months. Earlier in the season, Verstappen had called Russell “two-faced” following an incident at the Qatar Grand Prix, where Verstappen felt that Russell had contradicted private conversations with public statements made in the stewards’ room.
In response to Russell’s latest remarks, Red Bull’s Horner firmly dismissed the allegations, suggesting that Russell should focus on his own team’s problems rather than speculating about Red Bull. “George should worry about other things rather than spreading rumors about Red Bull,” Horner remarked. He reinforced that Red Bull remains a unified and successful team, emphasizing that their extraordinary achievements in the 2023 season were evidence of a positive working environment. Under Red Bull’s leadership, Verstappen secured his third consecutive Drivers’ Championship, while the team claimed their third consecutive Constructors’ Championship title, both of which were significant milestones in Formula 1.
Despite a few moments of frustration expressed by Verstappen over the team radio throughout the season, Horner maintained that there was no issue with Verstappen’s relationship with his engineering team. The accusations of engineers leaving the team were entirely baseless, according to Horner, who suggested that such claims were simply rumors without foundation.
The exchange between Russell and Verstappen highlights the fierce competition between the two drivers’ teams—Red Bull and Mercedes. The rivalry between the two teams has been a major narrative in Formula 1 in recent years, with tensions between the drivers themselves often spilling over into the public sphere. This latest episode further fuels the drama both on and off the track, as fans of both teams continue to be captivated by the ongoing saga.
As the 2024 Formula 1 season draws closer, it is clear that these tensions between Russell and Verstappen are likely to continue. With both drivers vying for supremacy, the personal and professional conflicts between them could play a significant role in shaping the season’s narrative. The intense rivalry between Mercedes and Red Bull, coupled with the public clashes between their respective drivers, adds an extra layer of intrigue as the new season approaches. Fans can expect more verbal sparring and high-stakes racing as these two teams battle for dominance in what promises to be an exciting and unpredictable campaign.
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