The tension between Max Verstappen and George Russell, which escalated during the Qatar and Abu Dhabi grand prix weekends, appears to have subsided.
The pair had clashed publicly over the qualifying penalty controversy in Qatar, with Russell's role as senior director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) also coming under scrutiny. However, a more conciliatory tone began to emerge as the season drew to a close.
At the drivers' end-of-season dinner in Abu Dhabi, Verstappen and Russell sat at opposite ends of the table. However, a few days later, they stood side-by-side for a GPDA meeting photograph.
"This was done intentionally," GPDA chairman Alex Wurz told formel1.de. "It was agreed upon by all 20 GPDA members who came to the meeting.
"It was important for me to say that the sport is bigger than individual drivers and the GPDA is bigger than its individual members. I said, 'Pictures say more than a thousand words—you don't have to hug or shake hands, just stand together.'"
Wurz added that he believes the matter is now settled. "No more discussions from either side," he confirmed.
German journalist Michael Schmidt of Auto Motor und Sport also observed a shift in tone between the drivers. "I think both drivers said, 'Enough is enough, this is not going to work anymore,'" Schmidt noted in his Formel Schmidt feature.
Schmidt pointed out that Verstappen's announcement about becoming a father helped shift focus away from the feud. "I think it has been resolved now. They will never be the best of friends, and they weren't in the past either. That had something to do with it. If the same thing had happened between (Lando) Norris and Verstappen, it wouldn't have gone the same way."
Schmidt also credited Verstappen's management team and Red Bull for helping to cool the situation.
"A driver who accuses another driver of wanting to put him in the wall can have consequences," he said. "That can reach all the way to the FIA president. If he then has it out for Max, there could be a penalty. That's another reason why the fuss has died down."
