The very public spat between George Russell and Max Verstappen is far from finished. The embers may dampen down during Formula 1 off-season. However, they are bound to re-ignite again once the racing kicks off in 2025.
On the surface, it all seems quite simple. A kind of “he said, she said” disagreement between two competitive individuals. However, the sub-text goes to the very dark heart of one of the components of an F1 race driver’s psyche.
The protagonists may have different personalities, but they share the same ideal of all F1 world champions: there are no boundaries in the pursuit of winning.
The lady doth protest too much
According to Max, George squealed to the officials and then bore false witness in the Qatar Grand Prix stewards' room.
Making a fuss over nothing, his silver tongue persuaded the judiciary to award him a one-place grid penalty. One hundred per cent Russell is guilty of the first and third charges, but I have my reservations about the second. It’s just not his style.
Integrity was probably one of the reasons he was elected by his peers to lead the Grand Prix Driver Association. That, and the ability to structure an argument.
Strong values… held loosely
However, it was interesting to note that Verstappen was happy to replicate the technique to disadvantage Lando Norris in the Qatar race vis-a-vis a yellow flag and the mirror.
It’s easy to call “safety” here, but please step forward any driver who never gained an advantage under a yellow, especially on a long straight, with nothing (car or people) visibly ahead.
The flag might more appropriately have been “change in surface” or, if deemed serious enough, which it clearly was, a VSC, temporarily neutralizing the race.
De Telegraaf- ing of threats
However, the four-time F1 world champion made his feelings and intent regarding the Mercedes driver clear in both Dutch TV and newspaper interviews. In simple terms, he threatened to put him in the wall, a thought that’s passed through every driver’s mind but not normally articulated.
George’s strategy to influence Max’s aggressive assertions has been to use the court of media and public opinion. He has learnt from Lewis Hamilton how to get his message out and allow people to read between the lines.
Stewards are not immune to this kind of thought manipulation, and Verstappen’s bruising media statements have only served to underline Russell’s messaging.
Potentially, the stewards may now keep a closer eye on him. In a fifty-fifty incident call, judgment is likely to go against the champ, not for him.
All’s fair in love and war
Influencing how other drivers perceive your response to being intimidated on track is all part of the game. Does anyone remember “Black” Jack Brabham? He had quite the reputation for not being generous with space. A different proposition when the cars were mobile petrol lighters and the barriers trees.
Race drivers game the system, rules, and anything else they can to win. To do this, they all try to use their relative strengths: George uses his intellect and communication talents, and Max, his “racing fists.”
Resolution
Verstappen sits on the top of the hill at the moment, and justifiably so. However, there is a point when you need to stop saying out loud what you’re thinking or what you think your public wants to hear; it can have unintended consequences.
Force respects force. If George or any of the other drivers want to stall Max’s intimidating track tactics and reign in his aggressive proclivities, then they need to show him by example on the tarmac.
Think Hamilton, Silverstone, Copse, 2021. He’ll soon get the message; just don’t announce your plan, especially to the media.
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