Source:REUTERS/Henry Romero
[Saba Sports News] During the F1 Mexican Grand Prix, after several drivers were involved in track incidents, the radio communication between George Russell and his race engineer Marcus Dudley revealed that the former called Max Verstappen a “joke.” On lap 6, Verstappen attempted an extremely late move on Lewis Hamilton into Turn 1, resulting in wheel-to-wheel contact and forcing Hamilton off the track at the exit. The seven-time world champion then retaliated with an equally aggressive move, causing Verstappen to go onto the grass, skip Turn 3, and rejoin the track ahead of both Hamilton and Russell. As the former teammates approached Turn 4, Hamilton locked up and went straight off the track, while Verstappen also ran wide, though less severely. The Dutch driver rejoined the track at Turn 5, forcing Russell off the track. Haas rookie Oliver Bearman and Russell’s teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli both capitalized on this series of incidents to pass the Mercedes driver. Subsequently, Russell said over the radio: “This guy is a joke,” referring to Verstappen’s driving after the Dutchman forced Bearman off the track at Turn 8. The 27-year-old driver also quipped: “This takes me back to my first time in karting.”