Emerson Fittipaldi on George Russell – Max Verstappen duel: “I like it, it’s what we need”. Emerson Fittipaldi reacts to the clash between George Russell and Max Verstappen.

George Russell vs Max Verstappen: The End-of-Season Controversy*
Aside from the battle for the Constructors’ Championship between McLaren and Ferrari, which was ultimately decided in favor of the Woking team on track, the lead-up to the Abu Dhabi GP was marked by a different kind of confrontation, this time less sporting in nature. Tensions flared between George Russell and Max Verstappen, with the two exchanging accusations following the Qatar GP qualifying and the penalty imposed on the world champion.

Max Verstappen accused George Russell of being a “double-dealer,” while the Mercedes driver revealed that Max Verstappen had threatened to “smash his head against the wall.” This dispute sparked widespread discussion but seemed to be appreciated by Emerson Fittipaldi, the two-time F1 world champion and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner.

What Motorsport Needs
In an interview with *racer.com*, the Brazilian explained that such episodes bring out the true character of drivers:
“I like it a lot because it shows each athlete’s personality,”* he said. *”No matter the sport, the audience wants to see who’s behind the helmet. It’s great to witness that. I enjoy it, and I think there should be fewer PR people around the drivers and more focus on their right foot. When the flags drop, the nonsense stops. That’s it; that’s what motorsport needs.”

A Warning About Gabriel Bortoleto
Continuing on the topic of drivers, Emerson Fittipaldi also highlighted his compatriot Gabriel Bortoleto, the recent F2 champion set to debut in F1 with Sauber:
“In recent years, we’ve only had one Latin American driver: Sergio Perez,” he concluded. “We’ve been very disappointed in Latin America, but I tell all the European drivers to watch out because young Brazilians are coming, and they’re earning many good seats. We need to reclaim our space.”