Lando Norris takes a hilarious jibe at the ongoing spat between Max Verstappen and George Russell
The 2024 F1 drivers got together for the end-of-season dinner tradition, and Lando Norris uploaded the compulsory group photo from the dinner. The McLaren driver based his hilarious caption on the ongoing feud between Max Verstappen and George Russell.
Verstappen slammed Russell for being “two-faced” after the 2024 Qatar GP as the Mercedes driver complained to the stewards following the qualifying incident. This resulted in Verstappen getting a grid drop. Russell on the other hand organized a media event at the Abu Dhabi GP and slammed the Dutchman for his comments and actions.
With the Mercedes media event being on the same day as the dinner, many people were curious to know how Verstappen and Russell got along at the dinner. Lando Norris answered fans with the caption of the group picture that read:
“2024 dinner! and yes, the two your thinking about were sat as far away from each other as possible” followed by two laughing emojis.
It is clearly visible in the selfie uploaded by Esteban Ocon from the dinner that Verstappen and Russell were sitting at two extreme ends of the table. Lando Norris sat next to the Dutchman on the near end with Russell next to his teammate Lewis Hamilton on the far end.
A few drivers including Ocon thanked Hamilton for arranging the dinner. However, others including Checo thanked Valtteri Bottas for the same. In the previous year, it was the seven-time champion who arranged the dinner and picked up the bill.
Nonetheless, the feud between Verstappen and Russell is far from over with the Dutchman reacting to the latest comments made by Russell.
“Stay away from me”: Max Verstappen reacts to George Russell's attack
George Russell suggested that Verstappen was acting furiously inside the stewards' room at the Qatar GP and alleged that the Dutchman pushed him into the wall. The Mercedes drivers had let things slide but Verstappen's personal attack after the Qatar GP race prompted the Brit to organize the media event and reveal his side of things.
Max Verstappen told media including Sportskeeda at the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP:
“That's not true; I didn't say it like that. He's exaggerating again. Do you know what I can't stand? The way he attacks me unacceptably with the stewards and then acts like nothing happened the next day, patting me on the shoulder. I think, 'Stay away from me.' He invents all sorts of nonsense. With me, you always get the same: here, at home, with the stewards -- I don't change. You can't say the same about everyone. But I'm not surprised by him.”
It will be intriguing to see how Max Verstappen and George Russell face each other on the track during the final round of the 2024 season.