Ever since the start of the 2022 season, Red Bull and Mercedes have cruised in a different league altogether. However, the rivalry between the two camps refuses to die. This time, Lewis Hamilton, Toto Wolff, and Christian Horner had nothing to do with it. It was George Russell and Max Verstappen. The duo kicked off a controversy after they came together during the Sprint in Azerbaijan. Later, there was an exchange of some unsavory language. However, the junior Mercedes driver seems to have moved on from it. In fact, he showered heaps of praise on his Dutch rival in his recent interview.

Verstappen started the Sprint in P3 and Russell, a place behind him. The Briton, however, took the lead over him after getting a better start going into Turn 1. Things heated up between them when they approached Turn 2 and Verstappen attacked him from the outside. Russell did not leave much space there and resultantly, they came together. The Dutchman took some damage to the floor of his car and the bodywork. Later, he confronted the Mercedes driver in parc ferme, and cameras picked up on him calling Russell and “d*ckhead”.

George Russell puts aside differences with Max Verstappen

Mercedes is currently going through a great slump that is refusing to end. The team is ready to float its first big set of upgrades in Monaco but team boss Toto Wolff recently revealed that he wasn’t getting his hopes too high. Amidst all this, all the team, including the drivers, can do is keep patience. A quality that George praised Max for possessing.

Speaking with AutoHebdo recently, he said, “In life, nothing is simple. Not everything goes your way.”

“Look at Max, for example, he had five years with Red Bull, in a top team, in which he won what? Eight races? Then he won 15 last season! He deserved to fight for titles before too, but now it’s his time and he makes a fine world champion.”

Read More: Has Lewis Hamilton Won the Monaco GP?

Russell may have let bygones be bygones with Verstappen, but Helmut Marko believes Hamilton hasn’t. In fact, he backs the Mercedes champion to make a switch to Ferrari soon, all because of two factors involving Max.

Lewis Hamilton to make Ferrari switch because of Verstappen?

Hamilton is currently in his final year of the contract with Mercedes. At 38, the only reason many believe he is hanging on to the sport is because he wants that never achieved before 8th world championship title. Mercedes, however, does not look to be in any position to be able to give him a car worthy enough to do that anytime soon. This led to speculations about him looking for a possible move to Ferrari.

While talking with F1-Insider recently, Marko said, “There are two things that really annoy Hamilton.” [Translated using Google]

“Firstly, that he is no longer world champion and will be difficult to become champion again in the future. In addition to the sporting perspective, Lewis is also anything but happy that he is no longer the highest-paid driver in Formula 1. That is now Max Verstappen. He could change that with the help of Ferrari.”

Watch This Story: George Russell Sends a Feisty Response to Max Verstappen’s D**khead Jibe in Azerbaijan

Mercedes has a new set of upgrades waiting to hit the ground running in the upcoming Monaco GP. Do you think Russell and Hamilton can take the fight to Verstappen with these upgrades?