VERSTAPPEN IS A BULLY: RUSSELL

Briton says Red Bull driver threatened to crash into him on purpose at Qatar GP

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ABU DHABI - George Russell on Dec 5 accused Max Verstappen of threatening to deliberately crash into him, after the Dutchman refused to back down over his criticism of the Mercedes driver.

The Briton blamed the four-time world champion for blocking him dangerously during qualifying at the Qatar Grand Prix last week, a claim that resulted in a stewards' investigation and Verstappen losing pole position to Russell.

The Red Bull driver said ahead of this weekend's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that Russell had lied to the stewards and that he had "no regrets" over his comments in Doha, where he said he had "lost all respect" for the Briton.

Russell hit back at Verstappen's latest tirade, saying the four-time world champion was a bully who threatened to crash into him on purpose.

"I find it all quite ironic considering (that on) Saturday night he said he's going to purposefully go out of his way to crash into me and, quote, 'Put me on my f***ing head in the wall'," said the Mercedes driver.

"So to question someone's integrity as a person while saying comments like that the day before, I find very ironic.