Russell should ‘focus on his car’ after Albon comments - Verstappen

Max Verstappen feels Williams Formula 1 driver George Russell should focus on himself after criticising Red Bull for making Alex Albon “look like an idiot” in Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying. 

Red Bull endured a miserable qualifying in Hungary as Verstappen only managed the seventh-best time, while teammate Albon was knocked out in Q2 and will line-up 13th on the grid for Sunday’s race. 

Russell, who out-qualified Albon in his latest impressive qualifying display for Williams, leapt to the Anglo-Thai driver’s defence after the session to say he was “being made to look like an idiot when he’s absolutely not”, urging Red Bull to “sort it out”. 

However, Verstappen was quick to dismiss the criticism from Russell, adding the Briton should keep his opinion to himself.

“First of all George doesn't know anything about the team," Verstappen said.

"I think it's better he just focuses on his car and his performance instead of speaking for someone else.

"From my side, I think I always try to get the maximum out of it, I try to push as hard as I can.

"It doesn't mean if my car is not, let's say, capable of getting pole position that I give up. I still try of course to push it to the limit.”

Albon was frustrated to have lost time after getting caught up in traffic as he finished eight-tenths off the pace of Verstappen’s time.

Speaking about the team’s qualifying struggles, Albon added: “As a team we've struggled at the start of the season. 

"Obviously it's my first year in the team from the beginning of the season, so I'm in that process right now.

"It's not what we want, but saying that I'm still not happy with my qualifying performance.

"I still feel like my run one wasn't ideal and I definitely made a few mistakes, so we would have been in Q3 if it wasn't for that.

"Still, it's not a top five where we really should be, and it's obviously trickier to drive when the car isn't doing what you want it to do. I'm sure we're going to get on top of it.

"I know that the guys are working flat-out at the factory and despite the issues, we are making the car better, so bit by bit it's coming along.

"Just like how Red Bull have done in previous seasons, I'm sure we will get stronger towards the end."