Ted Kravitz says one F1 driver privately told him he’d ‘had enough’ of Max Verstappen’s behaviour

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Max Verstappen has been a controversial figure throughout his F1 career. And this has led to some strong criticism from rival drivers.

When he first joined Red Bull, Verstappen came under fire from Ferrari drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel, who argued that his wheel-to-wheel tactics were overly aggressive.

And in 2021, when he won his first world championship, title rival Lewis Hamilton felt he occasionally strayed over the limit. Last year, it was Lando Norris who was calling Verstappen out on the radio after a string of controversial clashes.

Verstappen found himself closer than ever to a race ban when he made contact with George Russell at the Spanish GP in June. But he has avoided any further transgressions since, which means the danger has receded.

Ted Kravitz reveals what George Russell told him before infamous Max Verstappen tirade

Russell and Verstappen infamously clashed at the end of the 2024 season. The explosive row was ignited by an incident in qualifying for the Qatar GP, for which the Red Bull driver received a one-place penalty.

Russell alleged that his rival had threatened to ‘put him on his head’ at the first corner in retaliation. The FIA didn’t investigate Verstappen’s comments, which could have constituted unsportsmanlike behaviour, because there was insufficient evidence.

Speaking before the season finale in Abu Dhabi, Russell said ‘somebody’s got to stand up to a guy like this’. He called Verstappen a ‘bully’ who too often ‘gets away with murder’.

In his book, F1 Insider: Notes from the Pit Lane, Sky Sports reported Ted Kravitz revisited those comments. He says it was very much a pre-meditated offensive from Russell.

“A week after Qatar, when Russell arrived at the Abu Dhabi track, he was in no mood to let the Verstappen situation lie,” he recalled. “I’d spent the day interviewing drivers at the TV pen, but hadn’t yet heard any earth-shattering stories.

“A minute before his time slot, up strode George. He called me over to the edge of the pen – ‘make sure you ask me a follow-up question’.

“‘What do you mean?’ I asked. [He replied] ‘I’m going to give it back to Max. I’ve had enough of him bad-mouthing me in the press, and I’m going to call him out on his bullying tactics. I know you’re only supposed to ask me one question, but never mind that, I’m up for as many questions as you like’.

“Before checking to see if he was wearing a Drive to Survive microphone, I asked him if he was absolutely sure he wanted to escalate what was effectively last year’s story, and start a new fight with Max – never an easy battle to win. He said he was positive, and away he went.”

Do Mercedes think a Max Verstappen and George Russell partnership would work?

Russell knew that Verstappen was of interest to Mercedes when he made his comments. One wonders if that was part of the motivation.

It’s been suggested that Toto Wolff could include a ‘Verstappen clause’ in Russell’s new contract. That would allow him to let the Englishman go if the world champion became available.

But given Russell’s outstanding performances this season, Wolff’s priority will surely be to field the two drivers together in a ‘superteam’. The question is whether that’s feasible.

Some Mercedes insiders doubt Russell and Verstappen could co-exist given their history. There has been an apparent detente this year, but that might not last amid the intensity of a teammate rivalry.