“The best overtake I’ve seen”: George Russell praises Max Verstappen despite rivalry. George Russell admits Max Verstappen is “one of the greatest ever”.

Rivalry doesn’t cloud George Russell’s judgment: with his overtake at Imola, Max Verstappen proves himself to be “one of the greatest ever” in F1. A recognition that carries even more weight considering the well-known friction between the two, which began towards the end of last season. Still too early for lasting peace, but the Mercedes driver is clear: “You have to admire what he does on track.”

Sport is made of moments, flashes of brilliance, and openings that only the greatest champions see and seize. Precious opportunities, no matter how risky or complex, that can decide a match, a contest, or in our case, a Grand Prix. The first corner at Imola, with Max Verstappen’s outside move on Oscar Piastri, was exactly that: a flash of refined talent and boldness.

A move that, by the end of the race, sealed the win for the Dutchman, never caught again by the two McLarens. Sure, his rival and pole-sitter of the day – and current championship leader – may have left the door a bit too wide open. But that takes nothing away from SuperMax’s maneuver, brave yet effective, earning him 25 points and praise from his number one rival on the grid.

George Russell on Verstappen: “He’s one of the greatest ever”
Ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, George Russell revisits the events of Imola: “[That move by Max Verstappen on Oscar Piastri] was the overtake of the year, no doubt about it,” the Brit explained, as reported by the Mirror. “To be honest, it was the best overtake I’ve seen in quite some time. I thought my start in Barcelona [in 2024] was pretty good, but he did something spectacular.”

“It was a bit frustrating, from my point of view. I got off to a really good start but had nowhere to go. I thought my only hope in the race would be battling Max, only to then see him fly past Oscar, damn.”

“But that’s what makes him one of the greatest ever, there’s no denying it. Even considering our relationship, or whatever has happened in the past, you have to respect what he’s capable of doing on track. That was a fantastic move in a fantastic weekend for him. Their car was incredibly fast, and I think they surprised everyone a bit.”