Max Verstappen has described Formula 1 as “annoying” and dismissed questions about the possibility of receiving a race ban as “childish.”
The Red Bull driver, who qualified second for Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix, will line up alongside pole-sitter George Russell of Mercedes and battle for the lead at the start of the race.
Verstappen’s current predicament stems from the Spanish Grand Prix, where he deliberately made contact with Russell. The resulting penalty has brought him within one licence point of a race ban.
When asked about the situation on Saturday at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Verstappen expressed his frustration: “I don’t need to hear it again. You were talking about it already on Thursday. It’s a complete waste of time. It’s very childish. That’s why I don’t want to say too much — it’s just really annoying, this world we live in.”
Russell, who secured his first pole of the season, referenced Verstappen’s situation while discussing their head-to-head battle. Smiling, the Briton said: “We’re mates, so it’s all good. I’ve got a few more points on my licence to play with, so let’s see.”
Verstappen, who previously admitted that the incident in Spain was “not right and shouldn’t have happened,” insisted during Thursday’s press conference that the looming threat of a ban would not affect his approach to racing.
“I can’t just back out of everything,” he said. “I’ll race like I always do. I trust myself.”
The tension between Verstappen and Russell is not new. The pair clashed at the end of last season, with Verstappen accusing Russell of trying to earn him a penalty during the Qatar Grand Prix, and Russell taking offense at Verstappen’s comments afterward.
Their public exchanges included Russell calling Verstappen a bully, while Verstappen labeled Russell a backstabber. The animosity also flared during the sprint race at the 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where the two drivers collided and traded further insults.
