George Russell accepted his penalty for colliding with Max Verstappen during the Las Vegas Grand Prix, saying he did not realise his rival was trying to pass him.
The pair made contact at turn 12 as Verstappen tried to pass the Mercedes driver on the inside. Russell admitted he “just totally didn’t see him in the blind spot” as he turned in.Russell said he didn’t even intend to put up a fight against Verstappen, as he was unlikely to keep the Red Bull behind, and he was focused on beating other drivers.
“I wasn’t expecting the overtake,” he said. “I wasn’t even really fighting him because we knew that Max wasn’t our race, we just had to keep our tyres alive.”
Although Russell only sustained light damage in the incident, the Safety Car was deployed due to the debris on the circuit, which compromised his race.
“So I don’t really know what to say really. Just really frustrated with today, with the season as a whole. Can’t really catch a break.”
He was given a five-second time penalty for the incident, which dropped him from fourth place to eighth in the final results. The stewards also gave him two penalty points on his licence, which puts him on a total of four.
“It was a comfortable podium just thrown away, once again,” said Russell. “So it’s, as a season, really disappointing. Very frustrating. And now heading into Abu Dhabi only a few points between us and Ferrari.”
“He didn’t do that on purpose,” said the Red Bull driver. “I think he just didn’t expect me to to pass him into that corner because that’s how it felt.
“I put it on on the inside and he just turned in like there was no one there. So I guess he just didn’t didn’t see me.”
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2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix
- Tost blames track inspection oversight for Sainz’s damage in Las Vegas
- Hard to repeat “rare” combination of factors behind Vegas shunt – Norris
- Las Vegas Grand Prix “got a lot more hate than it deserved” – Sargeant
- Williams’ “incredible” Vegas qualifying made us “poor” in race – Vowles
- Piastri is first rookie to take two fastest laps in a season since Hamilton
Ferdinand
19th November 2023, 11:07
Costly mistake. He needs to up his game. Cant do this on this level.
Mark (@blueruck)
19th November 2023, 11:25
I like George, but he is no LH or MV when it comes to avoiding the small mistakes that cost points.
Ferdinand
19th November 2023, 11:34
I agree. He is an asset but needs to get rid of these small mistakes.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
19th November 2023, 18:44
The stewards are clowns – that was a divebomb.
melanos
19th November 2023, 20:53
Not at all. George was allowed plenty of space. If they collided it was George’s mistake. It is plain to see and not only the stewards say it, George himself freely admits it.
But why bother? Whatever you say.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
19th November 2023, 22:09
https://youtu.be/Q9qSwDxF6YI?si=FZEV2qEV5lbLM8mn&t=207
Impossible to go side-by-side – worse than Maldonado for sure. Max Maldonado is a more fitting name.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
19th November 2023, 22:10
Check out the link I sent you – it’s impossible to go side-by-side there. He’s soooooooooooooooooooooooo far behind, it’s not even funny.
Mayrton
20th November 2023, 7:46
1. I saw at least 5 overtakes there, so side by side seems very much possible; 2. Max did make the corner so a dive-bomb? No; 3. George owned up to the mistake.
MattDS (@mattds)
20th November 2023, 10:59
@freelittlebirds you’re litterally showing a link where it’s clear that Max wasn’t divebombing but was alongside at just slightly faster speed, and was getting the apex just fine. If as a driver you cannot go side by side, then you take a wider line on entry as George should have done once he was clearly beaten to the apex.
If you want to see a divebomb, watch Hamilton on Raikkonen in Monza 2007. THAT’s a divebomb.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
20th November 2023, 12:34
@mattds I did watch the Monza 2007 again – Hamilton had cleared Raikonnen. I don’t think many of you understand the semantics of being in front and behind.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
20th November 2023, 13:16
Here’s an overtake by Leclerc on Perez on the last lap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9qSwDxF6YI
You clear the other car before you get to the corner. You don’t make the entire car’s width on the corner itself as the other driver is turning… aka a divebomb or the Verstappen Special as they call it in F1.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
20th November 2023, 13:16
oops, width as in length.
MattDS (@mattds)
20th November 2023, 14:07
@freelittlebirds oh sure he had “cleared” Raikkonen, by virtue of going so hot that he didn’t even make the lefthander, going fully to the left of the white line.
No, you don’t “clear the other care before you get to the corner”. That is not how it works. You get in there, and if you corner and make the apex you are doing absolutely fine. Said it elsewhere: Max was at least partly alongside Rusell for all of 4 seconds, made the apex and corner fine, and as per FIA driving standards was entitled to being granted space by Russell.
Directly quoting those FIA directives:
Not even Russell agrees with you. Think about that.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
20th November 2023, 15:16
First of all, accepting blame is not something drivers do. Russell is responding to Hamilton’s lead who’s been accepting blame recently which is really nice of him.
Verstappen has never accepted blame for any of his mistakes so how is accepting blame relevant? What were the nicknames? Crashstappen and Maxcrash or Madmax? He’s earned them by driving recklessly.
At 3:25 you can see Russell’s rear wheels. At 3:27, he’s trying to make a full car’s length into the corner. They collide at 3:27. So it’s not 4 seconds, it’s 1 second where Verstappen makes a lunge and tries to outbrake Russell into the corner leaving him no space to turn. It’s perfect definition of a divebomb.
Get your facts straight.
And Silverstone 2021 is clearly not an incident and needs to be corrected because Lewis could have overtaken on the corner by doing the same dive and perhaps sent Max to his rightful death but he backed out.
In fact, almost all incidents should be reviewed with the new 2023 Verstappen rule interpretation applied. Many victories should be taken away retroactively because the penalties should have not been given and the other driver should have been penalized.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
20th November 2023, 15:18
Apparently using any words that involve a collision and the name of the WDC driver lead to modification (similar word that requires a person to review the content)….
Dantera87
20th November 2023, 16:40
Do you even know what a dive bomb means? Friendly tip: it is a totally legit move.
Moreover, come the apex, Max’s front axle was in front of George’s rear axle and had the inside line, so by the rules, Max had the corner.
Also, George and Toto both admited fault. Talk about arguing over a losing point.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
21st November 2023, 12:57
@Dantera87 2,000 children in India said it was Max’s fault, 3,000 said it was Alonso’s and 5,000 Dutch people said it was George’s. I guess it was 50% George’s, 30% Alonso’s and 20% Max’s based on the demographic polls!
But it does explain George’s strange comment. Clearly George didn’t watch the video to see how Max crept up on him and as a driver he should. I did for him and there was no way George was making that corner.
I guess that’s what happens when 2 bad wheel-to-wheel drivers go racing… Neither of them has any clue what’s going on.
Kotrba
19th November 2023, 11:41
What podium does he mean? Even without a SC, Perez had already some 15 sec gap to him, so he would always catch him after his stop. Leclerc and Verstappen were in their own race. Podium was never on.
Once again, Mercedes were miles off the two teams and Ferrari will jump them to the second (if they really want that second spot I mean).
melanos
19th November 2023, 20:59
Agreed. 4th was it, with no expectations to improve. And without Carlos’ undeserved 10P penalty and then spin at the start it would have been 5th
BLS (@brightlampshade)
19th November 2023, 11:48
It’s been a clumsy season for Russel after a strong showing last season. Hamiltons now guaranteed 3rd whilst I think Russel is 8th?
he’s had some bad luck but he’s had more self induced problems than luck.
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
19th November 2023, 11:52
How dare he try and race during an important tyre preservation session? Who does he think he is, the world champion?
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
19th November 2023, 13:14
That was really clumsy from Russell. He was in for a podium. Just like at Singapore. Those points are costing Mercedes a lot.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
19th November 2023, 17:51
He said he didn’t expect Max to take the corner like that because he could have passed him back, going to the next corner, but Max made sure that didn’t happen. It’s Russell’s fault for not anticipating the lunge I suppose, but in my book, if you are going to make a pass, you are responsible for making sure it’s clean. end of.
sam
19th November 2023, 18:02
It doesn’t work like that. George was responsible and penalized for it.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
19th November 2023, 18:43
No, that was a dive and all on Max. Russell had to completely yield there to allow Max to squeeze through…
Another ultra-ridiculous call by the stewards this weekend. 4 for 4.
Bad call for Sainz.
Bad call for Verstappen impeding Ocon in qualifying
Bad call on Turn 1 with Verstappen
Bad call on divebomb with Verstappen on Russell
3 free passes for Max…
I feel Maldonado deserves an apology from the FIA, Racefans, and the entire racing community. If Max is allowed to drive that way, the guy was the best racer and cleanest driver and way ahead of his time.
David (@nvherman)
19th November 2023, 19:07
Let the hate flow through you. Feel it pulling you towards the dark side.
Verstappen lives rent-free in your head.
melanos
19th November 2023, 20:59
There’s no room enough for Max in a mosquito’s head
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
19th November 2023, 22:15
@nvherman it belittles the driver when he should be doing drive through penalty after drive through penalty like real champions did.
MattDS (@mattds)
20th November 2023, 11:14
@freelittlebirds
Agree.
No. There can be no question of impeding when both are starting a hot lap. Racing each other during qualifying is not disallowed. There was nothing to decide on or even investigate. You have to brush up on your knowledge of the rules.
Disagree again here: the stewards cannot impose anything else. Suggestion can be given to give back the place, but that is not a “punishment” that is taken up in the rules, only a suggestion. If the driver does not comply to that or the suggestion is never given in the first place, then a 5 second penalty is standard.
Again, these are the rules.
Also disagree. Not a divebomb (see above), Russell fully at fault, as per FIA driving standards.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
19th November 2023, 18:39
That looked like a dive to me… I’ve seen people penalized for much less.
David (@nvherman)
19th November 2023, 19:08
@freelittlebirds and if Hamilton had done it, you’d be the first to applaud an opportunistic overtaking manoevre. But it’s Verstappen and your bias is showing as usual
MadMax (@madmax)
19th November 2023, 21:15
you would be the one to call it a divebomb in this case. dont blame others for your bias
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
19th November 2023, 22:13
@nvherman I think we’ve immortalized Maldonado here. That was a crazy divebomb.
Everybody makes mistakes – Max is >50% when it comes to tight racing and they can be life-threatening. He just cannot race with anyone wheel-to-wheel when it matters. He just gets mentally blocked. I’ve never seen such bad driving in my life.
MattDS (@mattds)
20th November 2023, 11:17
@freelittlebirds the hyperbole and drama in your posts is incredible. As I’ve indicated above, if you want to see a crazy divebomb, you can take a look at Hamilton/Raikkonen in Monza 2007.
Max’s move doesn’t come close to that. He was at least partially alongside for 4 seconds, showing that the speed differential and the distance he came from was never big to begin with. He did not overshoot the apex, which is another characteristic of a divebomb. Unusual for that corner, maybe, but he set it up well in advance and he was more than enough alongside to be given room by Russell, who turned in like nobody was there .
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
20th November 2023, 12:40
@mattds here’s a clip of Hamilton/Raikonnen in Monza 2007.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzFDvZhntvQ
That’s an overtake, not a divebomb.
I’ve shared the clip where Verstappen is clearly a mile behind Russell and Russell can’t make the corner. If you think Hamilton was wrong at Silverstone, then Verstappen is 200% wrong here.
I rest my case.
MattDS (@mattds)
20th November 2023, 14:26
@freelittlebirds you can rest your case all you want, that doesn’t make it one that holds any water. Your hyperbole isn’t helping you out. Verstappen is partially alongside for seconds (as opposed to Hamilton), with a speed slightly higher than Russell (as opposed to Hamilton), and is making the apex and that corner combination in full control (as opposed to Hamilton).
Look, dropping the definition discussion: I don’t actually care what you do or don’t label as a divebomb, because the racing rules do not describe divebombs or account for them when assessing what the respective responsibilities of the drivers are. In the end the situation is clear in that Max, as per FIA racing standards, had a right to be given space, and Russell admitted as such. “The incident with Max was totally my fault.”
Maybe you should tell Russell how he’s wrong.
The comparison with Silverstone goes awry on a few points. One being that Russell on the outside turns to the apex and Max hits the apex, failing his responsibility to leave space on the inside for Max, where Max in Silverstone left more than a car’s width of space for Lewis, fulfilling his responsibility to leave space on the inside for Lewis, who in turn didn’t get close to the apex.
This is why Lewis and Russell where punished in both cases – because it is not a valid comparison and because who fulfilled or failed his responsibility differs.
F1 Fan
19th November 2023, 22:54
Don’t know why you try with these posters.
MadMax is basically half blind and Michael is still clutching his straws on how the hype has sent him into permanent misery.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
20th November 2023, 2:21
If you don’t think that’s a dive, then I don’t know what to say – so there are no dives in F1 in overtakes. You can just come from 3 miles from behind and stop the other car from turning which by the way makes Silverstone 2021 completely legal from Lewis’ perspective. That requires an apology from the FIA, Max, Horner, and every single Vestappen fan who should be applauding Lewis for that maneuver regardless of outcome.
Like I said we need to bring Pastor Maldonado back and perhaps give him Max’s car – he deserves it, right?
MattDS (@mattds)
20th November 2023, 11:20
Which he didn’t, so all is good, right?
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
20th November 2023, 12:51
@mattds watch the video again and look at Verstappen trying to make the overtake as they are heading into the corner – there’s no angle where Verstappen can turn and Russell can also make it, unless Russell slows down massively and does a wide slow turn to allow Max through.
He’s trying to come next to Russell and he’s so far behind his front wheels still.
It’s a divebomb and any classification other than that is just poor judgment and bias from the other person. The previous overtake was awesome but this is Monza 2021 or pick another of Max’s desperate overtakes where he completely loses track of the fact that 2 drivers are there.
MattDS (@mattds)
20th November 2023, 14:16
True. And your issue with this is what exactly? If Russell wants to prevent that happening, it’s on him to cover the inside and not leave the door open.
This is wrong. He has more than half a car next to Russell pre turn-in. Furthermore, he’s been partially alongide for a few seconds (negating the idea that this would be a “divebomb”), meaning Russell could absolutely know he was there. Lastly, having more than half a car next to Russell even pre turn-in means he has a right to be given space as the FIA guidelines for this are having as little as just the front wheels alongside as late as the actual apex.
Max was comfortably in line with those requirements.
This bears zero value. “Hamilton in Monza 2007 was a divebomb and any classification other than that is just poor judgement and bias from the other person.” See how saying things is easy? Do you now agree with Monza being a divebomb or does the other person saying it in this case is somehow not enough for you to accept it?
Opportunistic, maybe, but no idea why this would be “desperate”. Quit the hyperbole.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
20th November 2023, 15:32
I have answered it and here are the comments by Verstappen
“I put it on on the inside and he just turned in like there was no one there. So I guess he just didn’t didn’t see me”
Guess where that happened and Verstappen didn’t get a penalty but Hamilton did. It starts with Silver and rhymes with Stone.
Here’s what Russell said:
Please tell me, where did Russell accept blame?
He said he didn’t see him because Verstappen lunged as Russell was about to turn. No one sees another driver dive-bombing in a F1 car. If they did, they’d probably avoid contact, right?
You said to me
You have been found to lie probably as much as Christian Horner claiming 4 seconds of Verstappen being side-by-side when he can clearly see Russell’s rear wheel 2 seconds before impact.
You also seem to have liberally interpreted Russell’s comments as accepting blame.
You also claimed that Hamilton’s overtake on Raikonnen was a divebomb when it was clearly an overtake that Raikonnen expected. Not saying that Hamilton hasn’t divebombed unsuccessfully before – all drivers have.
What would be fair and appropriate for me to say to you “Please quit the lies and disinformation and stick to facts”. It doesn’t feel like something I would say but it does feel appropriate.
Ruben
20th November 2023, 15:56
Here, for one.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
20th November 2023, 16:07
Thank you that does state that he accepted blame for it.
When the stewards made their judgment Russell had not accepted blame. They only thing that was available was Max’s claim that George hadn’t seen him which would have happened in a divebomb.
So Russell’s claim and the stewards are dependent on each other as Russell had already been given a penalty. Arguing with the stewards post-fact would only make things worse for him and gain him nothing.
And what does acceptance of blame have to do with anything? Did Verstappen accept blame for any of his incidents? At Silverstone, he didn’t see Lewis, right? Had Lewis claimed that he didn’t see me, would that have made Max automatically at fault? It seems it would have if we apply Las Vegas F1 rules.
What about Monza? He claimed Lewis was at fault but he got the penalty so clearly driver assignment of blame is not really relevant and happens post fact.
Ruben
20th November 2023, 16:22
In this case Russell’s acceptance means that you’re trying to defend a point of view not even shared by the person affected most by the collision and the penalty.
In fact, you’re neatly aligning with Max: sticking to your point of view while the stewards decided otherwise. What that means? Don’t know, maybe you can tell me.