Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Third placed George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes attend the press conference - Source: Getty
Mercedes driver George Russell reportedly declined to sit beside Max Verstappen during the F1 driver's dinner at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Ahead of the season finale every year, all 20 drivers meet away from the track and indulge in a relaxed dinner.
However, this year's atmosphere was seemingly tense due to the ongoing war of words between George Russell and Max Verstappen after the end of the Qatar Grand Prix. In the last race, the Dutch voiced his displeasure over Russell's behavior in the stewards' room at the end of the qualifying session in Lusail, saying:
“Honestly, [it was] very disappointing because I think we're all here, we respect each other a lot and of course, I've been in that meeting room many times in my life, in my career, with people that I’ve raced and I've never seen someone trying to screw someone over that hard. And that for me… I lost all respect.”
