Russell opens up on 'AGGRESSIVE' Verstappen claims with 'DANGEROUS' F1 drivers on the grid

George Russell has admitted that Max Verstappen is "probably less aggressive than he’s ever been", after revealing that there are three drivers on the current F1 grid that he "wouldn’t feel comfortable going against".

Russell and Verstappen are no strangers to confrontation. The Dutchman called the Mercedes driver a "d***head" after being forced wide during the Baku sprint race earlier in the season.

The man from King's Lynn then claimed that Verstappen was being "pathetic" in a back and forth that dominated the weekend's headlines.

READ MORE: Verstappen preparing for 'UNIQUE' F1 challenge

But Russell has now looked to put that behind him, after he insisted that the two-time world champion is no longer as aggressive a driver as he once was.

“I think we [the F1 drivers] all know each other pretty well,” Russell told Autosport ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix. “We know each other’s driving styles, we know the risks one another take.

“I first raced against Max and Charles [Leclerc], and Esteban [Ocon] actually, in 2011.

“I actually raced against those guys before I ever raced against Alex [Albon] or Lando [Norris], which is a bit interesting considering the nationality differences.

“But, equally with Alex and Lando, [we] grew up in go-karting watching other races. So, I’d always be watching Alex racing in the age category above, or Lando in the category below.

“We know each other and probably that does contribute towards how we race one another.

Russell: 'Max is less aggressive now'

“And he can lose a position and know that he’ll get it back later down the line.

“Whereas we’re probably in a bit more of a ‘do or die’ position now to get that one chance of victory throughout a season.”

Russell then went on to suggest that there were “maybe three drivers on the grid who you wouldn’t feel comfortable going against”.

“There’s a trust between most of the drivers,” he added. “I don’t think [the three unnamed drivers] have the spatial awareness of others.

“So, actually you prefer fighting hard against the great drivers because you know that they’re going to be able to control their car better and place it in hard positions but not dangerous positions comparing with somebody who maybe isn’t at the same level as the best.”

READ MORE: Mercedes give Russell new NICKNAME in cheeky social media jibe

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Max Verstappen ally claims bad Red Bull start has triggered F1 champion's fury

• Yesterday 22:55

Lewis Hamilton out, Oscar Piastri's big mistake and a sliding doors F1 moment

• Yesterday 21:55

Christian Horner in ‘Aston Martin meeting’ as Newey replacement speculation rages

• Yesterday 21:10

Max Verstappen F1 ally 'approached by Aston Martin' in shocking twist over Adrian Newey replacement

• Yesterday 20:27

F1 champion admits getting caught with ‘sneak peek’ at Adrian Newey’s sacred notebook

• Yesterday 19:43

Kimi Antonelli's father had 'clear the air talks' with Mercedes after F1 absence

• Yesterday 18:55