Lando Norris teases George Russell over Max Verstappen clash

Lando Norris decided to have a bit of fun with his mate George Russell after the latter’s collision and heated exchange with Max Verstappen in Baku.

It is safe to say that Verstappen was not best pleased with Russell and what he believed to be overly-aggressive driving from the Brit on Lap 1 of the sprint, Verstappen picking up bodywork damage on his Red Bull when they hit down at Turn 2, though it was at the following corner where Verstappen was really left fuming, believing Russell had run him out of road.

“D**khead” and “princess George” were among the titles which Verstappen hurled at Russell following the sprint, so when Norris and Russell were together on the pre-Azerbaijan GP grid, armed with Sky Sports F1 microphones, Norris could not help but throw a little dig in there.

As Norris was discussing his race ahead, Russell arrived on the scene, also armed with a microphone.

Norris got the first shot in though, joking: “I told him earlier he just needs to watch out he doesn’t run into anyone today.”

But interestingly, he then told Russell that he actually takes his side on that particular spat between his two friends.

“I’m actually on your side George so you’re good mate,” Norris revealed.

He was not quite finished toying with Russell yet though. As Verstappen had told Russell to “expect the same next time” they are together on track, as Norris pointed out, the McLaren driver said with a smile that he was “looking forward to that”.

PlanetF1.com recommends

Will Buxton calls out Max Verstappen: George Russell criticism ‘a bit rich’

Pundit’s theory on Christian Horner reassurance to Max Verstappen after Baku

Understandably what went down between Verstappen and Russell has been heavily debated, though it is certainly true that Verstappen is no stranger to stern wheel-to-wheel racing, perhaps the fact that Russell was using this tactic on him not going down too well.

当诺里斯又询问了这一事件by Channel 4, his response perhaps put credit to such a viewpoint.

“I’m just saying, if you’re going to give, you have to take,” he claimed.

As it turned out, Sunday’s Grand Prix would not be the stage for any potential round two between Verstappen and Russell, Verstappen claiming a P2 finish as he and Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez dominated the field again, while Russell was forced to settle for P8.