BAKU (Reuters) - Max Verstappen swore angrily at Mercedes rival George Russell after a first lap clash in Saturday’s Baku sprint race ripped a hole in the Formula One champion’s Red Bull.
The Dutch driver, who still finished third in a race won by Mexican team mate Sergio Perez, refused to let the matter drop despite later taking back the place after a safety car deployment.
“I don’t understand how he can keep the position when he’s damaging my car,” he said over the radio.
When the Dutchman regained the place Verstappen was congratulated pointedly by the team for a “lovely job, without contact as well”.
Verstappen and Russell exchanged words after the race, television microphones picking up Verstappen hinting at future revenge and calling Russell a ‘dickhead’ as the Briton walked away.
Russell, who finished fourth for a team playing catch-up after a disappointing start to a season so far dominated by Red Bull, defended himself separately and said he was there to fight.