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Russell snaps back at Verstappen: 'I wasn't going to be bullied around'
Russell has made it clear that he is ready to take on Verstappen and has no intention of backing down in any on-track battles. The British driver also emphasised that he is not concerned about the possibility of Toto Wolff pursuing Verstappen for a future Mercedes seat.
Russell: 'I've never been scared of Max'
Wolff previously expressed his hope that Mercedes' 2025 driver lineup would be a long-term solution for the team. However, it is no secret that he was highly interested in signing Verstappen last year. Although a deal never materialised, the Austrian has openly stated that he would still like to work with the Red Bull driver at some point in the future.
Russell is aware of this but remains unfazed. "I don't think there's any pressure whatsoever. All I need to do is continue doing what I'm doing, continue doing what I've done my whole career, he stated in a conversation with BBC Sport. "So that changes nothing. And it's not even something I'm thinking about. Because I 100% back myself. It's as simple as that. You perform and everything will be there for you.
"I want to go up against the best. I don't feel that my ability is in question."
There has been plenty of discussion in recent months about the clashes between Verstappen and Russell, with both drivers admitting they had lost respect for each other after the Qatar Grand Prix. "I wasn't going to just stand and be bullied around. People seem to always back down to him. And that's just not how I go about my business," the Brit said firmly.
"I'm not there to be best mates with a world champion. I'm here to win. And that's his mentality as well. There's no love lost. I've never been scared to race against Max. I've always put up a fight." Russell concluded.
This article was written in collaboration with Nicole Mulder
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