“I was very surprised by how angry he was,” Russell said. “I am not just going to wave him by because he’s Max Verstappen in a Red Bull. Both drivers are 25, but Russell made his debut in F1 in 2019, whereas Verstappen first raced in the top category in 2015. “[In his position] I would try to fight, but not run into him,” Verstappen said. Leclerc, who also took pole for the main grand prix, said: “I don’t hate this format. “We are still lacking some pace in the race and it’s been the case since quite a bit,” Leclerc said.

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