Third-beginning Verstappen used to be hounded by immediate-beginning Russell into the first sequence of 90-degree left-handers of the Baku City Circuit.
An aggressive Russell tapped Verstappen’s sidepod into Turn 2 and introduced about the Dutchman to rush, which gave Russell momentum on the stretch in direction of Turn 3. Verstappen then had to cede the house when he nudged Turn 3’s out of doors wall.
The Pink Bull driver raged on the team radio relating to the incident which left him with sidepod harm. “I don’t realize how he can shield the house and he’s damaging my car. It be kinda ridiculous,” he fumed at his trail engineer Gianpiero Lambiase.
With the incident left on my own by the FIA stewards, Verstappen then repassed the Briton after an early safety car to seal third gradual team-mate Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
In parc ferme Verstappen confronted Russell relating to the contact, with Russell pointing to an absence of grip within the first few corners because the trigger of their contact.
In what grew to change into a heated alternate Verstappen clearly didn’t earn Russell’s explanation and went on to call him a d***head because the Mercedes driver walked off.
When asked about whether or no longer he had been ready to account for the incident with Russell, Verstappen acknowledged: “It be no longer clarified… I true don’t realize why you prefer to take so great possibility on Lap 1. He understeered into my sidepod, created a hole. All of us be pleased cool tyres, it be all easy to lock up.”
Relating to Russell’s apology, Verstappen acknowledged: “In his dazzling arrangement of explaining ‘Ah mate, I locked up, ogle on the on-board’ … it doesn’t make sense. However it be beautiful, we restful got into P3, got some true sides, but it’s what it’s. There is a hole within the sidepod, it doesn’t ogle that giant, but it’s what it’s and we are going to take care of the following day.”