“It makes no sense” – Max Verstappen was furious with the Mercedes star who destroyed the champion’s car, George Russell was surprised by the violent opening

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez won the first sprint race of the F1 season. Team mate and series leader Max Verstappen fought for third place tightly for George Russell.

Red Bull Sergio Perez won the first sprint race of the F1 season. Perez defeated Ferrari in the battle for victory Charles Leclerc in Azerbaijan on Saturday.

In the 17-lap race, Perez overtook Leclerc, who started from the pole on the 8th lap, with the help of a movable rear wing.

In the Baku F1 race, the most dramatic moments were seen at the very beginning. Reigning world champion and Red Bull leading the series again this year Max Verstappen there was a hard fight for third place of George Russell with.

Russell put Verstappen in tight and passed the Dutchman in a tight spot.

Verstappen was hot about the situation on the team radio and demanded a penalty for Russell. The British driver hit the side pontoon of Verstappen’s car and it got a hole.

Despite the damage to the car, Verstappen was able to pass Russell later in the race.

Verstappen gave fierce feedback to Russell in the finish area.

– None of us have any grip. We all have to leave space, Verstappen opened up to Russell so that it could be heard on TV.

– I expect the same next time!

Verstappen continued his rant in the track interview.

– That situation has not been clarified. I don’t understand why you have to take risks in the first round. The car understeers and makes a hole in the side pontoon. We all have cold tires. They lock easily. His beautiful explanation.. It doesn’t make any sense, Verstappen complained.

Russell claimed on Viaplay that he does not remember what he had time to say to Verstappen in the situation.

– It was more about what he said. I thought Max would come to shake hands for a good fight. But he was angrier than I expected. I was inside and ahead in the corner. I was surprised that he tried to stay true. It was the first round of the sprint race on cold tires. He knows the risks. No contact was meant to be made, but he put me in a difficult spot, Russell stated.

Russell reminded of the basic thing in the whole sport.

– I started racing when I was eight years old. In karting, we were taught that if you are the first one on the inside of a corner, it is your corner. It’s a core thing in the sport. Max is a great driver. He knows that. I was surprised he objected. In my opinion, he had already lost his position, Russell stated.

In the beginning, we saw drama anyway, when AlphaTaurin Yuki Tsunoda rattled the wall. The TV pictures showed Tsunoda’s car tire spinning on the track.

The Japanese was taken to the pits, but the car’s rear suspension was not checked properly. AlphaTauri briefly allowed his car back onto the track, broken, before Tsunoda stopped for good.

Valtteri Bottas stayed behind with an unusual tactic

Valtteri Bottas started the sprint race from the 17th grid and finished in 16th place.

Bottas started the race with unusual tire tactics. Only he and McLaren’s Lando Norris started on the soft tire compound. The others had a medium hard tire compound underneath.

– We decided together that we will try with a soft tire. They were good at the start, but they didn’t last long, Bottas told Viaplay.

Bottas thought the experiment was good because only the top eight from the sprint race get points. The actual competition will be held on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. As usual, the top ten get points. Sunday’s race will be started based on Friday’s time trials. Bottas starts on the 14th grid.

– We know that at least tomorrow we should avoid those tires, Bottas said about the lessons of the day.

– The speed in the car is otherwise good. We can fight with those starting close. I think the points are possible. Get your strategies right and a bit of luck. This day made me believe that if the tires work, the car should be just fine in the race.