Max Verstappen hit out strongly at critics of his driving style following Saturday’s qualifying session for the Canadian Grand Prix, calling the ongoing scrutiny “childish, annoying and pissing me off.”
The Red Bull driver will start Sunday’s race from second on the grid, behind Mercedes’ George Russell, who edged him out by 0.160 seconds. The two will share the front row just weeks after their controversial clash in Spain, where Verstappen was penalized and given three penalty points—bringing him just one point away from a race ban.
Asked again about the Barcelona incident in the post-qualifying press conference, Verstappen snapped:
“I don’t need to hear it again. It is really pissing me off. You speaking about it on Thursday—it’s such a waste of time. It is very childish. I don’t want to say too much because it is really annoying, this world that we live in.”
Russell, who had earlier joked about having more license points to “play with,” downplayed the tension but added he wouldn’t expect Verstappen to give him more space on track, especially given their recent history.
“He probably wants to prove a point,” Russell said. “But we’re here to win and won’t do anything that jeopardizes the race.”
Elsewhere, McLaren’s Lando Norris had another frustrating qualifying session, making two key mistakes and ending up seventh, well behind teammate Oscar Piastri in third. Norris admitted his errors cost him and said a podium would be “tough.”
Meanwhile, the FIA suspended driver steward Derek Warwick from his role this weekend due to unauthorized media comments, including remarks on Verstappen’s recent penalty. He’ll return to his duties at the Austrian Grand Prix.
As tensions simmer ahead of race day, all eyes will be on Verstappen and Russell as they renew hostilities from the front row in Montreal.
