George Russell says Max Verstappen has now ‘changed’ after calling him a ‘bully’

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George Russell and Max Verstappen’s feud in the Formula 1 paddock has reached a boiling point several times, but the Mercedes driver has noticed a change from his rival.

Tensions flared between the two at the 2024 Qatar GP, when Russell accused Verstappen of impeding him in qualifying. They had a heated exchange in the stewards’ room after the Brit reported the incident.

Things blew up in Abu Dhabi, as Russell labelled Verstappen a ‘bully’ to the media and called for other drivers to stand up to his behaviour. Since then, many have seen the pair as bitter rivals and two drivers who do not get along with each other.

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George Russell has ‘respect’ for Max Verstappen’s competitiveness and his interests outside of F1

The drama has cooled down somewhat since 2024, but tensions have still come up. Verstappen drove into Russell at the 2025 Spanish GP after he was told to hand the position back for an illegal overtake.

The feud continued to make the headlines last year as Mercedes pursued a deal for Verstappen. It was rumoured that Kimi Antonelli would make way for the Red Bull driver and partner with Russell.

Russell would be ‘reticent’ as Verstappen’s teammate, given their history. But amidst all the drama, the Brit still has respect for his rival.

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Speaking to The Times, he admitted that he has seen a ‘change’ in Verstappen over the past year and continues to admire his talent.

“I honestly think he’s changed a little bit in the last year,” he said. “I respect him a huge amount on track and I respect his competitiveness.”

Russell then revealed his admiration for Verstappen’s exploits outside of F1. He has been pursuing other interests, such as GT and sim racing, as he expresses his discontent over the 2026 regulations.

“He’s now doing these races in the GT category for the love of it, which I admire — and if I was a four-time world champion I’d probably be doing the same,” added Russell.