George Russell has maintained his firm stance against Max Verstappen, revealing he has not spoken with the world champion following their heated feud at the end of last season.
The Mercedes driver made it clear he "won't take it" from the four-time world champion, addressing the media in London ahead of F1's season launch event.
"No, we haven't spoken, [I have] no concerns about him or his driving or anything," Russell told reporters.
The British driver emphasised his focus is now on the 2025 season, though he remains resolute about not backing down from confrontation on track.
George Russell has spoken out on his feud with Max Verstappen
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The tensions between the two drivers escalated during the Qatar Grand Prix last year, where they clashed in the stewards' room over a qualifying incident.
The dispute led to Verstappen labelling Russell as "two-faced" after the race.
At the season finale in Abu Dhabi, Russell fired back, claiming Verstappen "couldn't handle adversity" and suggesting his radio outbursts were damaging team morale at Red Bull.
Tensions rose further when Russell said he would put him “on his f****** head in the wall” and calling Verstappen "a bully".
The Red Bull superstar responded by branding Russell a “backstabber” and “loser”.
The conflict remained unresolved throughout the off-season, with both drivers maintaining their positions on the matter.
Russell addressed his approach to racing against Verstappen in 2025, stating: "Obviously, things I felt got out of line at the end of last year.
"I made it pretty clear that I'm not going to take it."
The Mercedes driver emphasised his focus is now on winning rather than altering his racing style.
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Max Verstappen courted controversy last season after being accused of driving dangerously
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"The job is to win, so I'm not going to change my approach fighting him or fighting any other drivers," Russell said.
His stance differs from McLaren's Lando Norris, who recently announced he would drive with his "elbows out" when racing Verstappen this season.
Despite the ongoing tension, Verstappen had previously expressed optimism about repairing their relationship.
"Honestly, guys, of course, we have our arguments," Verstappen told fans last season.
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George Russell has admitted he has not spoken to Max Verstappen since the incident at Abu Dhabi
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"I'm sure we'll fix it again, but it's good to have a little break."
Both drivers are now focused on the 2025 championship battle, with Mercedes and Red Bull looking to improve after finishing third and fourth in last year's constructors' standings.
The rivalry could prove crucial for both teams as they compete for valuable championship points, while also keeping an eye on the upcoming 2026 regulation changes.
