PIT STROPS

George and Max at war Over Qatar

- DANIEL MOXON

A WAR of words broke out in the Abu Dhabi paddock as George Russell railed against "bully" Max Verstappen who labelled his Mercedes rival a "backstabber".

Red Bull racer Verstappen accused Russell of "lying" to the stewards to get him punished in Qatar last weekend.

The Brit responded by claiming Verstappen had threatened to crash into him and "put his head in a f***ing wall", which the Dutchman denies.

An incredible day began in an FIA press conference as Verstappen, who won last week, said: "I've never experienced what I experienced in the stewards' room in Qatar. For me, that was really unacceptable.