ラッセル、フェルスタッペンからの脅し明かす 「壁に頭をぶつけてやる」

【アブダビＡＦＰ＝時事】フォーミュラワン（Ｆ１、Ｆ１世界選手権）に参戦するメルセデスＡＭＧのジョージ・ラッセルは５日、レッドブルの世界王者マックス・フェルスタッペンから故意に衝突すると脅されたと非難した。これに先立ちフェルスタッペンも、ラッセルへの批判発言を撤回しなかった。（写真は第２３戦カタールＧＰで決勝に臨むレッドブルのマックス・フェルスタッペンとメルセデスＡＭＧのジョージ・ラッセル）
　前週行われた今季第２３戦カタールＧＰ予選で、ラッセルはフェルスタッペンが自分に対して危険な妨害行為をしたと主張した。これを受けてスチュワードが調査した結果、１番手となったフェルスタッペンは１グリッド降格となり、ラッセルにポールポジションを譲った。
　選手権４連覇を果たしたフェルスタッペンは、今週末のシーズン最終戦アブダビＧＰを前に、ラッセルがスチュワードにうそをついたと主張し、ラッセルへの「尊敬の念が完全にうせた」と発言したことについても「全く後悔はない」と断言した。
　この言い分に対してラッセルも反論し、フェルスタッペンが故意に衝突すると脅してきたとして、「土曜の夜（１１月３０日）に、彼が僕に対して『わざと衝突して、壁に頭をぶつけてやる』と言ってきたことを考えると、全く皮肉だ」「前日にそんな発言をしていたくせに、人の誠実さを疑うなんて本当に皮肉だよ」と語った。
　さらに、「黙ってそれを受け入れるつもりはない。もう何年もマックスから嫌がらせを受けてきた人々がいる。彼の運転能力に疑問の余地はないが、彼は逆境に対処することができない」とし、「土曜の夜（１１月３０日）と日曜（１２月１日）の発言は、自分にとって完全に無礼で不必要だった。サーキット上でのことや、そこで互いに激しく戦うのはレースの一部だが、今回のことに関して彼は度が過ぎている」と続けた。
　最終的にアブダビＧＰでは２番手から優勝を果たしたフェルスタッペンは、自分にペナルティーを科すようラッセルがスチュワードを説得していたと主張し、「全く後悔はない。言ったことは全てその通りだからだ」「再度その必要があったなら、おそらくもっと言ってやっただろう！」と言い放った。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/12/06-18:33）

George Russell on Thursday accused Max Verstappen of threatening to deliberately crash into him, after the Dutchman refused to back down over his criticism of the Mercedes driver.
Russell accused Verstappen of blocking him dangerously during qualifying at the Qatar Grand Prix last week, a claim that resulted in a stewards' investigation and Verstappen losing pole position to Russell.
The Red Bull driver said ahead of this weekend's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that Russell had lied to the stewards and that he had no regrets over his comments in Doha, when he said he had lost all respect for the Briton.
Russell hit back at Verstappen's latest tirade, saying the four-time world champion was a bully who threatened to crash into him on purpose.
I find it all quite ironic considering (that on) Saturday night he said he's going to purposefully go out of his way to crash into me and, quote, 'Put me on my (expletive) head in the wall', said the Mercedes driver.
So to question someone's integrity as a person while saying comments like that the day before, I find very ironic.
I'm not going to sit here and accept it. People have been bullied by Max for years now and you can't question his driving abilities, but he can't deal with adversity.
Whenever anything has gone against him... he lashes out. Budapest this year, the very first race his car wasn't dominant, crashing into Lewis, slamming his team.
For me, those comments on Saturday night and Sunday were totally disrespectful and unnecessary because what happens on track -- and we fight hard -- it's part of racing... But he's taken it too far now.
- 'No regrets' for Verstappen -
Verstappen went on to claim victory in Qatar from second on the grid alongside Russell who, he claimed, had persuaded the stewards to penalise him.
I have no regrets at all, because I meant everything I said, said Verstappen.
If I had to do it again, maybe I would have said even more!
Knowing the outcome of the race, I still can't believe that someone can be like that in the stewards' room.
For me, that was so unacceptable because, I mean, we are all racing drivers.
We have a lot of respect for each other. We even play sports together, travel together... and, of course, you have moments where you get together and crash or whatever when you are not happy...
I just never expected someone to really try and actively get someone a penalty that badly and lying about what I was doing, but it clearly had an influence on them.
Russell insisted he would not attempt to clear the air with his rival, saying it was Verstappen's problem to deal with.
You can go beyond the line in making a slight misjudgement, but going out of your way to say you'll purposefully crash into someone and put them on their head is beyond the line.