Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner, has come to the defense of his driver, Max Verstappen, amidst the escalating tensions between the world champion and Mercedes' George Russell. Horner dismissed their public dispute as part of the typical end-of-year 'pantomime season' ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers' championship, finds himself embroiled in a heated exchange with Russell. The conflict intensified in Abu Dhabi when Russell accused Verstappen of threatening to 'put him on your fucking head in the wall,' claiming it was time someone stood up to the Dutchman's bullying tactics. Verstappen has refuted these allegations.
The rift between the two drivers began at the Qatar GP, where Verstappen accused Russell of attempting to 'screw him over' during a stewards' meeting that resulted in Verstappen receiving a grid penalty. Their relationship has seen several confrontations in the past, but this latest incident may have irreparably damaged their rapport. At the annual end-of-season driver's dinner, Russell, who was offered a seat next to Verstappen, chose instead to move his chair to sit beside his teammate, Lewis Hamilton.
Horner defended Verstappen's version of events during the Qatar stewards' meeting, asserting that his driver is a 'straight-shooter' who tells the truth. He did not, however, address Russell's claim of being threatened. The FIA has been asked to investigate Russell's allegations, and if proven true, it could lead to Verstappen being deemed to have brought the sport into disrepute.
Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, joined Russell at a media call, where he described Horner, who had called Russell hysterical, as a 'yapping little terrier, always something to say.' Horner responded with his own quip, noting Wolff's dramatic tendencies and suggesting that being called a terrier is not necessarily a bad thing. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will not only decide the constructors' championship but also mark the end of an era as Hamilton prepares to leave Mercedes, with whom he has achieved unparalleled success.
McLaren, leading Ferrari by 21 points, is in a strong position to potentially win the constructors' title, a redemption that seemed unlikely just a few years ago. Hamilton, a former McLaren driver, will undoubtedly take pride in the team's potential success, though he would also be pleased with a Ferrari victory as he prepares to join the Scuderia next season. This weekend will be an emotional farewell for Hamilton with Mercedes, a partnership that has elevated him to legendary status in the sport.
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