Recount of the MAJOR Max and George clashes.
(disclaimer: this is meant to be brief so check out the comments or add your own for details I missed ❤️)
On track collision between the two during the sprint race which gave the Redbull car a hole on the side pod. George was on the inside line and Max on the outside. Later, Max IMMEDIATELY goes to confront George post-race. George says he locked up with cold tyres and Max dismisses it, telling him to leave space. As George walks away, Max tells him to expect the same next time and calls him a dickhead.
“I’m not just gonna wave him by because he’s Max Verstappen in a Redbull” - George post-race interview. He defended himself by saying he had the apex.
“He’s very good at explaining and creating excuses” - Max post-race interview, to George’s comment on the lock-up.
Later on, this famous quote emerges: “Oh, defending on the outside is not allowed because Princess George is there?” - Max in an interview with the Dutch media.
At this point, it was seen as a regular racing-incident.
OPINION TIME: General consensus seems to be that Max was being a little TOO bothered by it. It was the same move he used to make on others. This is BEFORE most of the George hate and people seemed to applauded him for standing up to Max.
During the Q3, Max was driving slow on the racing line, nearly causing a collision as George drove through the gravel to avoid him. HOWEVER, George was not technically on a flying lap, rather a warm-up. So the penalty wouldn’t really need to have been reinforced. In the end, Max secured pole and George got second.
Both drivers were summoned to the stewards post-race. George pushed for a penalty, saying he felt impeded and could’ve gotten pole instead. Max got a 1 place grid drop instead of the usual 3 since neither were on a flying lap, snatching away pole for him and given to George instead.
Off-track and after the steward’s session is where the media drama begin. Max went to the media first, claiming that he’s never seen someone try to screw someone over that hard and that he’s “lost all respect” for George. He calls him two-faced and polite in front of cameras but different in person. If you want more.
George only responds in pre-Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. In his 2025 book, Ted Kravitz has since revealed that George pulled him aside in the press-pen and told him to ask as many questions he’d like so he can call Max out. If you want the whole interview with George it’s here. Guys, this is a kinda long interview, but basically George said that he’s lost respect for Max because he made it personal and someone needs to stand up to “a bully like this”. He didn’t expect Max to take it this way.
He then claims that before the race, Max had threatened him.
“I find his comments pretty ironic when he comes out and says I’m going to purposefully crash into you, I’m going to put you on you fucking head in the wall” - George, then later going on to say that Max meant it and he could tell from his eyes.
Yes, this is where George says “whenever anything is not going his way, he lashes out with unnecessary anger and borderline violence.” Now, George claims that Max swore in the stewards room. However Crofty and other sources indicated otherwise. This is really a your word against mine situation.
They go back and forth, more things are said but I’ve summed up the general gist of it. If you want the full rundown here is a great video.
Side note on Thursday media day, Toto joined George for a press conference to back him up, calling Horner a “yapping little terrier”. I included this just because it’s a perfect description.
Erm, no opinion time for this one, I fear the wrath of both fan bases. I suffer as a fan of both. I will say though, QUIT IT with the George hate. I swear this is the catalyst to all of it :(
After a late SC, they touch and Max goes off track and gains an advantage. The team radios to tell him to give the position back to George but Max argues. When he does slow down, Max accelerates on the corner and rams into the Mercedes. He obviously gets a 10 second penalty and points docked on his super license.
Later on social media, Max has said that the collision was not right and shouldn’t have happened. In Canada, George was asked about the post, saying he’s surprised at Max taking responsibility.
