George Russell joked that Max Verstappen is “whinging” about the new Formula One calendar “because he wants more money.”
“It’s too many for me,” said Verstappen after it was announced Formula One’s 2024 calendar would feature a record 24 races across 10 months. The double world champion’s deal with Red Bull is worth a staggering £50million a year but 25-year-old Verstappen has already spoken about retiring at the end of a contract that runs until 2028.
But Russell, also 25, laughed: “I think he’s whinging because he wants more money. He is the highest-paid on this grid - and rightly so for what he is achieving - but I think it is all a big tactic, his threat of retirement and what-not.
“I hope he doesn’t, I hope he stays for as long as I stay because I want to fight against the best drivers in the world fighting head-to-head like I am doing with Lewis at the moment. I want the chance to do that with Max and with Charles (Leclerc) and with Lando (Norris).”
“I think it (the calendar) is a bit more logical the way that it is planned at least," Verstappen added after his claim about the number of races. "I guess that is better for everyone.
“But more things will have to come together for me to make my mind up over whether I stay longer (than 2028) or not. But I think that these things are definitely not helping for sure.”
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Russell's comments come after compatriot Lewis Hamilton spoke highly of his fellow Mercedes driver. Russell and Hamilton have both secured podium finishes this season, with Russell taking third in the Spanish Grand Prix, but Verstappen has dominated the drivers' championship with six wins from a possible eight.
Russell was the only British driver to claim a race win last season, winning in Sao Paulo. Lando Norris, the third Brit with a drive in 2023, is still waiting for his first career victory after multiple podium finishes.
"It's not passing the baton, but knowing we have other great British drivers will prolong the success of the Brits moving forwards, Hamilton said. "Our fan base will always have good drivers [to cheer for] because we generally develop good drivers in the UK.
"George and Lando [Norris] are both incredibly talented and have such a bright future ahead of them. It's crazy to think they are as young as they are. Lando is 23 but has been here for ages. I'm excited to watch their journey and where they get to."
