Devastating: George Russell has sent a brutal and an astonishing message to Max Verstappen

Uncategorized Emmysports February 18, 2025 0 Comments

Devastating: George Russell has sent a brutal and an astonishing message to Max Verstappen

George Russell has not spoken to Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen since their end-of-season bust-up in Abu Dhabi last December and the Mercedes driver said on Tuesday he was not about to change his approach either.

Russell and Red Bull’s four-time champion traded accusations last year, with Verstappen saying he had lost respect for the Briton — who accused him of threatening behaviour and bullying.

“I haven’t spoken [with him],” Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, told reporters at a 10-team F1 75 season launch in London when asked whether there had been any reconciliation.

“No concerns about him or his driving or anything.

“That happened last year, and I want to focus on myself,” Russell, who has a new teammate in Italian teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli after the departure to Ferrari of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, added.

“Obviously, things I felt got out of line at the end of last year and I made it pretty clear that I’m not going to take it. But now, you know, it’s 2025 and I want to focus on the job and the job is to win.

“So, you know, I’m not going to change my approach fighting him, fighting any other drivers. The goal is the same and I guess we’ll see when we get going.”

Russell, a double race winner last year when Mercedes finished fourth overall, is in his fourth year at Mercedes and will be the effective team leader alongside Antonelli.

Verstappen won his fourth successive title in 2024 but McLaren’s Lando Norris is already the bookmaker’s favourite after last year’s battle.

The season starts in Australia on March 16.

The family of Michael Schumacher has lodged an appeal against a “far too lenient sentence” for one of the defendants found guilty in a blackmail plot.

Last week, a German court found three people guilty of trying to extract money from the Formula 1 legend’s family with the threat of releasing videos and photos of him.

Schumacher has not been seen in public since he suffered serious brain injuries in a 2013 skiing accident, and his family has kept his medical condition private.

The blackmail plot leader, Yilmaz T., was sentenced to three years in prison while his son, Daniel L., was given a six-month suspended prison sentence.

The third suspect, Markus F. — who had had been working for the family 18 months before the skiing accident — received a suspended two-year prison sentence, and the Schumacher family believe his sentence was too lenient.

“We have appealed against what we consider to be the far too lenient sentence for Mr. F.,” read a statement from Corinna Schumacher, Michael’s wife. “In my opinion, he was the mastermind behind this.

“What still shocks me most is the massive breach of trust. He should receive a punishment that deters any potential copycats.”

Last year, Schumacher’s family secured €200,000 ($207,840.00) compensation from the publishers of a German magazine that printed an AI-generated ‘interview’ with the seven-time F1 world champion.

Comedian Jack Whitehall will host the Formula 1 season launch event on Tuesday, with Take That and country star Kane Brown performing during the night.

F1 will kick off the season in a different way this year, with all 10 teams and 20 drivers attending a show at London’s O2 Arena.

The show, dubbed F1 75, is to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the world championship.

On Monday, F1 confirmed Whitehall will host a support bill including Take That, which had 12 UK No. 1 singles and topped the UK album chart on nine occasions.

U.S. country star Kane Brown will also perform alongside Machine Gun Kelly and Brian Tyler, the composer of F1’s official theme song.

The musical acts will support the 10 teams as they present their cars and drivers through the evening.

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George Russell hasn’t spoken to Max Verstappen since 2024 bust-up

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Russell: Focus is on winning, not fighting Verstappen (0:34)

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Feb 18, 2025, 11:16 AM ET

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George Russell has not spoken to Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen since their end-of-season bust-up in Abu Dhabi last December and the Mercedes driver said on Tuesday he was not about to change his approach either.

Russell and Red Bull’s four-time champion traded accusations last year, with Verstappen saying he had lost respect for the Briton — who accused him of threatening behaviour and bullying.

“I haven’t spoken [with him],” Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, told reporters at a 10-team F1 75 season launch in London when asked whether there had been any reconciliation.

“No concerns about him or his driving or anything.

“That happened last year, and I want to focus on myself,” Russell, who has a new teammate in Italian teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli after the departure to Ferrari of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, added.

George Russell was speaking ahead of the F1 75 season launch at the O2 Arena. Mark Sutton – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images

“Obviously, things I felt got out of line at the end of last year and I made it pretty clear that I’m not going to take it. But now, you know, it’s 2025 and I want to focus on the job and the job is to win.

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“So, you know, I’m not going to change my approach fighting him, fighting any other drivers. The goal is the same and I guess we’ll see when we get going.”

Russell, a double race winner last year when Mercedes finished fourth overall, is in his fourth year at Mercedes and will be the effective team leader alongside Antonelli.

Verstappen won his fourth successive title in 2024 but McLaren’s Lando Norris is already the bookmaker’s favourite after last year’s battle.

The season starts in Australia on March 16.