Canadian GP: Max Verstappen hits out at race ban talk as George Russell teases Montreal front row rival | F1 News
Max Verstappen says that the questions about his threat of racing ban are “P ****** Me OFF” before the Canadian Grand Prix where he will line up with his rival George Russell.
The reigning world champion Verstappen is at a penalty point to trigger a racing suspension after having faced Russell the last time in Spain.
Throughout Thursday’s media day in Montreal, Verstappen insisted that he will not change his approach but was not eager to discuss the subject before Sunday’s race, where the The lights will take place at 7 p.m. on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event.
“I don’t need to hear it again. It’s really pissing me off,” said Verstappen at the press conference after qualifying when it comes to his penalty points situation.
“I mean, you are talking about it on Thursday. It’s such a waste of time. It’s very childish, so that’s why I don’t want to say too much because this world is really boring in which we live.”
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Highlights of the qualifications of the Canadian Grand Prix.
Verstappen and Pole-Sitter Russell have a recent history of controversial incidents that will add to the excitement for the Canada Grand Prix, because the pair could get closer to the short term to shoot one, with the leader of the Oscar Piastri championship there to capitalize on any drama in third.
Russell, whose last victory occurred in November 2024 at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, quickly dug in Verstappen in his interview on the track at the Gilles Villeneuve circuit.
He said: “I have a few more points on my license to play with! Let’s see.”
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George Russell takes a search at Max Verstappen after having beaten him to take the post in Montreal
Russell gave an official response to the media later and said that Verstappen “had more to lose than me”.
“I don’t think a driver comes out to compete on someone and get penalty points on your license,” he added.
“Max is one of the best pilots. There is no reason for him to run differently. I am not sitting here thinking that he will give us more room, if something, probably the opposite, to try to prove a point.
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Look at 360 images from Max Verstappen meeting with George Russell in a controversial moment during the last laps of the Spanish Grand Prix
“I will keep an eye, but finally, we are all here to win. You are not going to do something that will compromise you.
“It is also a busy season and if you hit a racing ban, you get a race ban and you spend time at home. It is not ideal but it is not the end of the world.”
As for Piastri, he was right as Verstappen at the start of the Saudi Grand Prix but lost against Dutchman in Imola.
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Listen to Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri’s team radio conversations after facing the first corner of the Saudi Grand Prix
In Miami, Piastri showed his patience by taking no risk against Verstappen before putting his rival out of position to take the lead that put it in place to win the race.
“For me, I’m not going to run different.
“I’m certainly not going to do anything different. I’m going to run as I still run.”
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McLaren Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris pilots are thinking about a difficult start to Canada Grand Prix
What will decide on the Canadian GP on Sunday?
The last time Russell and Verstappen started first row together, it was the Grand Prix of Qatar 2024 when the Red Bull driver received a grid penalty in one place to hinder, which led to their public quarrel in Abu Dhabi. Russell said that Verstappen said “I’m going to put you on your head F *** in the wall” in the delegates’ room.
In Qatar, however, Verstappen is easily obtained by Russell at the start and won the race he hopes to reproduce Sunday in Montreal.
“We will try to do our best. It’s a long race,” he said Sky Sports F1.
“Many unknowns with the tires, how they will hold. So I hope we will be good on the tires and manage it well.”
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A look at some of the most heated clashes between Max Verstappen by Red Bull and George Russell by Mercedes
Russell has four podiums this year, but has not yet been on the top, because Mercedes had no realistic chances of victory in 2025.
Mercedes continued their tendency in the era of the Earth’s earth effect to work better in cooler conditions and Russell thinks that even cloud cover will affect their racing pace.
“We had a good racing pace on Friday, but it depends on the temperature.
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Jack Whitehall had fun at Max Verstappen and George Russell, in reference to their War of Words from the end of last season
“Now he can easily go in the other way in the race. If the sun was hiding, it’s a race at 2 p.m., it was a qualification at 4 p.m.. That makes a lot of difference.
“So, it will not be an easy race and, you know, of course, I had very fast guys around me. We do not know if it will be a single blow or a two stops, so it will not be simple.”
When asked if he would be aggressive against Verstappen at the start, Russell said: “We both fight for victory here, and none of us are really in a league battle.
“I have not won a victory this year, so I want to have one on the board. Time will tell us.”
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George Russell joins Karun Chandhok at Skypad to watch his Canadian GP post tour
McLaren has endured their most difficult weekend of the season so far, but cannot be excluded from the head battle, since they won seven of the nine races in 2025.
Piastri, leader of the old suspension on his car rather than the improved part of Norris’s car, expects to be on the gearbox of Russell and Verstappen.
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Oscar Piastri hit the champions wall during final training on Saturday
“Friday is not very very likely in any race, but I certainly feel more comfortable now than I did in the final training and Friday,” said the championship chief.
“Our pace on racing days is generally the place where we are strong. These two [Verstappen and Russell] Besides me, it was very fast in the racing race on Friday, so it will certainly not be a victory of the Slam Dunk, but I think that we are definitively in the fight.
Canadian Sky Sports F1 schedule
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A look at some of the most dramatic moments in the Canada Grand Prix
Sunday June 15
3:50 p.m.: F1 Academy Race three
5.30 p.m.: Grand Prix Sunday: Canadian GP Build-Up *
7 p.m.: The Canadian Grand Prix *
9 p.m.: Damy flag: GP Canadian reaction
10 p.m.: Ted’s notebook
* Also on the main event of Sky Sports
The Formula 1 2025 season resumes live Sky Sports F1 With the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend. Stream Sky Sports with now – no contract, cancel at any time.
