In a heated exchange at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, George Russell of Mercedes responded to criticisms from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, following a contentious weekend at the Qatar Grand Prix. Russell accused Verstappen of aggressive behavior and a lack of respect towards competitors, stating that the Dutch driver believes he is above the rules. The rivalry intensified after Verstappen expressed disappointment in Russell’s actions during a stewards’ meeting, leading to further tensions between the two F1 drivers.