George Russell Gets Backed by Former World Champion After Max Verstappen Incident in Las Vegas: “Really Tough Situation”

George Russell and Max Verstappen got here collectively throughout the Las Vegas GP on Saturday, which led to a five-second time penalty for the previous. Despite having accepted the blame for the incident that led to the punishment, Russell receives backing from 2009 F1 world champion Jenson Button. Button feels the penalty on the Mercedes driver was harsh, as he had nowhere to go.

On lap 25 of the race in Las Vegas, Verstappen, who misplaced his lead attributable to his personal penalty, was battling with Russell to cost up the sector. While doing so, the 2 got here collectively in an incident that gave the impression to be the Brit’s fault. Button, nonetheless, doesn’t assume so, as a result of the transfer Verstappen tried was in a really sudden a part of the circuit.

“That was a extremely unusual incident,” Button stated to Sky Sports. “Because it’s a bend the place you don’t count on somebody to return in. 

After Russell and Verstappen crashed, the latter misplaced part of his entrance wing, which appeared to have affected his try and win the Las Vegas GP. Race officers didn’t take a variety of time in deciding that Russell deserved a five-second time penalty for a similar. Jenson Button, alternatively, thinks that neither Verstappen nor Russell will be blamed for what occurred on Saturday.

No perpetrator in Max Verstappen George Russell incident

Verstappen’s transfer on Russell took the latter by shock, which is what led to the collision. Still, Button thinks that what occurred in Vegas was purely an unavoidable racing incident.

“I don’t know the place George needed to go,” the previous Brawn GP driver continued. “I imply, he might have gone straight to get out of the best way. But it’s a extremely robust state of affairs he was in. However, Max was additionally in a place the place he felt he needed to go for it.”

Russell too had injury to his wheel cowl and in addition to Verstappen’s personal front-wing injury, the particles on the observe was sufficient for the protection automobile to return out. That was notably necessary for Verstappen as he might pit, and rejoin the pack which allowed him to proceed his cost.

In the top, Verstappen prevailed. The three-time world champion gained the Las Vegas GP, ending forward of Charles Leclerc in P2 and teammate Sergio Perez in P3. Russell in the meantime, completed in P8.