The latest chapter in the increasingly tense relationship between George Russell and Max Verstappen unfolded during qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
The confrontation between the two drivers was less dramatic than some of their previous encounters, both on and off the track, but there was still clear frustration from Russell towards his Red Bull rival.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff suggested that Verstappen played a key role in Russell missing out on pole position by just six hundredths of a second, with Pierre Gasly ultimately claiming the top spot for Alpine.
So, what exactly happened?
As Verstappen approached the Parabolica during the final stages of qualifying, he realised there was no car ahead of him to provide a slipstream. He therefore significantly slowed his pace, hoping that Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who was behind him, would overtake and provide him with a tow.
However, Antonelli was performing a supporting role for his Mercedes team-mate Russell. The Italian was trying to position himself perfectly to give Russell a slipstream, with Russell following behind.
Once Antonelli realised what Verstappen was attempting to do, he decided not to overtake the Red Bull in order to avoid giving Verstappen an advantage. That decision, however, disrupted the carefully planned gaps between Antonelli and Russell, preventing Mercedes from executing the perfect slipstream strategy.
Russell’s reaction
Speaking to reporters at Monza, Russell pointed towards Verstappen as the reason the plan had become complicated.
“It looked like everything was going to plan,” the British driver explained. “But then, entering the Parabolica, Max braked hard. He didn’t want to be the lead car.
“These things happen. You can’t control what other people do.
“Kimi was there to give me a tow, which he did perfectly on the first run. But obviously, with Max ahead, I think it was difficult for Kimi to know exactly what to do.”
Russell admitted that Mercedes may have been better off abandoning the strategy in hindsight, but insisted that the team had been right to take the risk.
“So there was a bit of bad luck,” he said. “With hindsight, we probably would have been better off not trying it, but we wanted to maximise everything.
“Despite that, second place is still a good result. We’re ahead of our rivals and we still have a great opportunity to fight for the win.”
For Russell, the hope now will be that his battle with Verstappen remains on the track — and that there are no more close encounters with the Dutchman.
