After the penalty points received in Spain, Max Verstappen is at risk of disqualification, and will therefore need to act cautiously. George Russell knows this well, as he will start from pole position ahead of the Dutchman in the Canadian GP. After qualifying ended, the Mercedes driver sent a message to Max Verstappen, pointing out that the risk of receiving a disqualification puts him at a disadvantage in direct battles. During the press conference held for the top three qualifiers, journalists brought the topic up once again.
Qualifying in Canada ended with George Russell and Max Verstappen on the front row. A fierce and closely fought race is expected. The pole sitter acknowledged this once Saturday’s session was over. George Russell in fact explained his main advantage: “Compared to Max, I have a few super licence points I can afford to lose. He can’t take risks, so we’ll see.”
Max Verstappen confronts the journalists
In the press conference, the media continued to raise the issue with the Dutch driver, who responded sharply: “I don’t need to hear it again [the issue of the penalty points, editor’s note]. It’s really pissing me off. I mean, it was already discussed on Thursday. It’s such a waste of time. It’s very childish. That’s why I don’t want to say too much—because it’s really annoying, this world we live in.”
Max Verstappen is aware that he will need to carefully consider how he behaves on track if he wants to race in Austria. What he clearly doesn’t appreciate, however, is the ongoing chatter in the paddock, with media and fellow drivers constantly bringing the issue to the forefront.
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