Analyst sees Russell's attitude: 'Good driver, actually just an asshole'

F1 News

giedo van der garde on george russell being an asshole Qatar GP
3 December at 21:00

George Russell did not do Max Verstappen any favours in Qatar last weekend. According to the Dutchman, Russell was hugely responsible for the stewards giving him a one-place grid penalty for the Sunday. Former driver Giedo van der Garde does see the Briton as someone who would purposefully try to screw over others.

'Grosjean still worse than Russell'

In terms of performance on track, the Dutchman does see the Mercedes driver's qualities. "As a driver, I think he is really good," the former F1 driver began in the DRS: The Race Show podcast. "Completely [given] what he has shown in recent weeks and months. Only sometimes, only when Lando said 'shit' in a press conference, you'd also immediately hear Russel with: 'Okay, [that's a] fine!' He's just trying to screw over everyone a bit."

For a driver at the absolute top, that is not necessarily a negative trait, Van der Garde understands. "Probably he's just a killer, actually he's an asshole. He just wants to get the most out of what's in it. A new Grosjean? No, Grosjean was much worse," the current analyst added.

Van der Garde also regularly sees the Mercedes driver in the paddock, and continued: "A very nice guy. He is loved by others, otherwise you would not be the director of the GPDA."

This article was written in collaboration with Ludo van Denderen


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