George Russell has only completed one year with Mercedes and until now, he has done a great job in propping his team’s name up. To do that, one of the biggest requirements is to put down Red Bull and its drivers. Lately, the junior British driver has taken that intensity up a notch or two. His latest one ended up getting Max Verstappen fans riled up once again.
It wasn’t too long ago when Russell invited Red Bull fans’ fury. In a fun video for Mercedes’ YouTube channel, he reviewed every 2023 F1 track. When it came to rating the Red Bull Ring, he gave it the lowest score, citing the problem in the name of the circuit. While some found his comments petty, others felt it was Lewis Hamilton who had “poisoned” his mind.
George Russell offends Max Verstappen fans again
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In a recent interview with SquareMile, when asked whether he regrets spending 3 years at Williams, Russell said that it was a mixed experience but he tends to look at its positive side. Then, he goes on to give a hypothetical example that has become the reason for Verstappen fans to crib about.
Russell said, “Take Max as an example, who got his promotion after just eighteen months. If Max had perhaps gone to a team like Mercedes and competed against a peaking Lewis Hamilton, it could have damaged his career.” [Translated using Google]
This was enough to provoke the Dutchman’s fans who came up with some whimsical stories of their own. Take a look at some reactions from Twitter.
george russell should really shut up https://t.co/buempByJcj
— mar (@loserhrj) April 16, 2023
He would literally be the youngest world champion ever, added to it a 4 time world champion https://t.co/d9vSn1w1eM
— DS (@MVEdition) April 16, 2023
Some felt that Max would have amassed as many world championships as Lewis had, had he been his teammate in Mercedes’ golden era.
Russell is so dumb. I genuinely believe Max would've given Lewis some hard competition to win as many titles he won in his career. https://t.co/Zj0DE85CeB
— Pavan (@cinematiclibrty) April 16, 2023
One fan felt that Hamilton would have had lesser championship titles to his name than Sebastian Vettel (4) had Max been his partner at Mercedes. That’s the thing about fantasies, one is free to cook up whatever they feel like. It’s like what Italian chef Gino D’Acampo had once so eloquently said, “if my grandmother had wheels, she would have been a bike”.
Hamilton would have had lesser championships then Vettel https://t.co/wNJCRsvvGC
— Neo🔟 (@ProfPinkman) April 16, 2023
Verstappen would have 2 more titles and Hamilton would have 2 fewer, whose career is getting damaged ? https://t.co/XnGA0VkRiJ
— ☆ 1 (@Willseh14) April 16, 2023
Everytime George speaks, I dislike him more and more. What is he on about? If anything it wouldn’t have damaged Max’ career at all cause he was a literal 18-19 year old against a multiple time World Champion. https://t.co/kgJjRAT9p3
— Lis (@rbrblis) April 16, 2023
Another Verstappen supporter believed that the Dutchman and Hamilton being on the same team would have turned out to be more damaging to the Briton’s career.
It certainly would have damaged Lewis Hamilton career.
The young Max Verstappen may not have beat Lewis on the first season, but he certainly would have after a season or two and won more titles.#F1 https://t.co/ElD5dO4GE1— Geralt (@Geralt31065966) April 16, 2023
every time george opens his mouth i wanna smack him. what is bro on about https://t.co/JjTO6QG4tE
— jen ³³ ₈ 🇿🇦 (@soy33lago) April 16, 2023
Some fans sided with Russell.
I think he’s right. 2016, 2017 and first half of 2018 Max would’ve been destroyed by Lewis. He needed time te develop https://t.co/W1LusG0f6X
— Thijs (@lfcthijs) April 16, 2023
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Watch This Story: Will Daniel Ricciardo Get Swapped in for Sergio Perez at Red Bull?
people in the replies definitely didn't watch F1 before 2020 ☠️ https://t.co/ac055sV2DS
— Sylv✨ (@Sylvv_) April 16, 2023
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Whose career do you think would have taken more damage had the two sworn rivals been teammates at a team that only had its own drivers as each other’s real competition for so long?