George Russell and Max Verstappen were involved in a war of words towards the end of the 2024 Formula 1 season after their incident at the Qatar Grand Prix.

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George Russell approached Ted Kravitz before the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.(Image: Getty Images)

Ted Kravitz has revealed that George Russell approached him before the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to break a written rule and escalate the row between the Mercedes driver and Red Bull rival Max Verstappen.

Russell and Verstappen came to blows following an incident during qualifying during last year’s Qatar Grand Prix where the two drivers nearly collided on their preparation laps. Four-time world champion Verstappen was investigated by the stewards for driving unnecessarily slowly and both drivers were summoned to the stewards.

Verstappen then claimed that Russell went out of his way to ensure a penalty was issued, with the Dutchman dropping one place on the grid while his rival was promoted to pole position.

Russell called Verstappen a bully and he also alleged that the Red Bull ace threatened to “put me on my f***ing head in the wall”. Verstappen then denied he made them comments and said Russell was “exaggerating” it again, suggesting that he presented himself very differently when the cameras were not pointed at him.

The row continued into the season finale in Abu Dhabi one week later, where Christian Horner and Toto Wolff got involved. Russell ended up beating world champion Verstappen by less than a minute in the final race.

Now, Sky Sports reporter Kravitz has detailed that Russell approached him in the TV pen on Thursday at the Yas Marina Circuit and asked him to ensure he gave his side of the situation in his pre-race interview.

Writing in his new book entitled Notes from the Pit Lane, Kravitz said: “A week after Qatar, when Russell arrived at the Abu Dhabi track, he was in no mood to let the Verstappen situation lie. I’d spent the day interviewing drivers at the TV pen, but hadn’t yet heard any earth-shattering stories.

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George Russell and Max Verstappen walking.(Image: Getty)

“A minute before his time slot, up strode George. He called me over to the edge of the pen; ‘Make sure you ask me a follow-up question’. ‘What do you mean’? I asked. [He replied] ‘I’m going to give it back to Max. I’ve had enough of him bad-mouthing me in the press, and I’m going to call him out on his bullying tactics.

“I know you’re only supposed to ask me one question, but never mind that, I’m up for as many questions as you like’.

“Before checking to see if he was wearing a Drive to Survive microphone, I asked him if he was absolutely sure he wanted to escalate what was effectively last year’s story, and start a new fight with Max – never an easy battle to win. He said he was positive, and away he went.”

The situation would cool off over the winter break before the current campaign got underway in March. Russell, who won his third-ever race at the Singapore Grand Prix earlier this month, is fourth in the drivers’ standings with Verstappen up in third and 36 points in front.