George Russell hopes Verstappen has learned the risk after Azerbaijan GP sprint event collision

In a dramatic turn of events at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix sprint race, George Russell of Mercedes and Max Verstappen of Red Bull collided, leading to a heated exchange between the two drivers. Following the incident, Russell expressed his hope that Verstappen has “learned the risk” involved in future wheel-to-wheel battles.

During the race, Russell had a strong start, overtaking Verstappen to take fourth place. The two drivers continued to run side-by-side until the exit of the Turn 3 left-hander, when they collided at the apex of Turn 2, causing damage to Verstappen’s left sidepod.

Despite the damage, Verstappen managed to reclaim his position and finish on the sprint race podium. However, he was not pleased with Russell’s driving and confronted him in parc ferme, calling him a “d***head.”

Russell was taken aback by Verstappen’s reaction and stated that he thought the Red Bull driver was coming over to praise their battle. The Mercedes driver also felt that Verstappen had plenty of time to wait before making a pass later in the race.

This incident highlights the risks involved in Formula 1 racing and the importance of sportsmanship and respect between drivers. Russell’s hope is that Verstappen and other drivers will learn from this incident and approach future wheel-to-wheel battles with caution and respect for their fellow drivers.

Russell said: “When he first came over, I thought he was going to say, ‘Nice battle and it was a nice fight’. I was surprised at how angry he was.

“From my side, his position was already lost and ever since eight years old in go-karting, if you’re on the inside at the apex of a corner, it’s your corner.

“If a driver is trying to resist on the outside, they’re taking a huge risk. On lap one on a street circuit, I was really quite shocked he was holding the position.

“But equally I’m here to fight, I’m here to win, I’m not just going to wave him by because he’s Max Verstappen in a Red Bull.”