Mercedes driver George Russell has revealed that members of his team received hostile emails from Dutch Formula 1 fans following his heated row with Max Verstappen at the Qatar Grand Prix.
The 27-year-old British driver disclosed that while he personally avoided reading the abuse, his representatives were targeted by supporters of the Dutch world champion.
"I didn't see any of it myself, but I do know there was a lot of criticism out there," Russell told Autosport.
"I know members of my team were receiving e-mails from Dutch fans."
George Russell has tried to ignore some of the abuse
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Russell maintained a philosophical approach to the online criticism, viewing it as an inherent part of modern sport.
"That's something we accept. And you can choose to read it and let it have an emotional impact on you," he explained.
The Mercedes driver revealed he deliberately avoids both positive and negative comments about his performance.
"Even with the positive comments, does it actually make me drive faster? Probably not, and there are more negative than positive most of the time, so I do really try and avoid it," Russell said.
The dispute originated during qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix, where Verstappen was deemed at fault for an on-track incident with Russell.
The Red Bull driver received a one-place grid penalty, promoting Russell to pole position at the Lusail International Circuit.
Verstappen reacted angrily to the stewards' decision, publicly accusing Russell of trying to "screw" him.
George Russell was involved in a spat with Max Verstappen last year
REUTERS
Russell responded by labelling the four-time world champion a "bully", with tensions remaining high between the pair since the incident.
Russell has expressed ongoing frustration with Verstappen's conduct throughout the 2024 season.
"I was frustrated watching the sport last year," he said.
"There should have been such a great title battle, and it was not, so those comments in Qatar tipped me over the edge."
The British driver suggested Verstappen's behaviour had overshadowed what could have been a more competitive championship battle.
Russell delivered a final rebuke of Verstappen's behaviour both on and off the track.
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George Russell and Max Verstappen rowed in QatarGETTY"It wasn't acceptable and something needed to be done," the Mercedes driver stated firmly.
His criticism encompassed Verstappen's overall conduct throughout the season, from driving incidents to public statements.
The ongoing tension between the two drivers is likely to be a focal point when the 2025 F1 season begins in Australia next month.
