The Formula 1 world is once again on fire after a controversial incident between Max Verstappen and George Russell during the Grand Prix of Canada on 15 June 2025. F1 commentator Olav Mol has Sport program in the Ziggo programCoffee raceNo leaves for the mouth and George Russell fiercely criticized. Mol called the Mercedes driver a “teller” and described him as “a coward, competitive, but complaining as soon as he can’t win the race.” These harsh words follow on an incident behind the Safety Car, in which Russell Verstappen brought in a plight, which led to a punishment for the Dutchman. The statements of Mol further fueled the rivalry between the two drivers and rejected the discussion about sportiness in Formula 1.
The incident took place in the final phase of the race on the Gilles Villeneuve circuit. Russell, driving behind the Safety Car, suddenly braked, causing Verstappen to pass him, an action that was not allowed and resulted in a five -second punishment. According to Mol, supported by guest Renger van der Zande, Russell’s maneuver was deliberately. “Russell sounds like a teller,” said Van der Zande, while Mol added, “That is Russell. He immediately shouts:” They are in the attic! “Mol suggested that Mol consciously called in the race management to put Verstappen, who balanced with eleven penalty points on the edge of a suspension. Posts on X from @GPFansNL (17 June 2025) strengthened this vision, with fans who labeled Russell’s actions as unsporting.
The rivalry between Verstappen and Russell has been tense since the Grand Prix of Qatar 2024. Then Russell succeeded in taking Verstappen’s pole position by suggesting him at the stewards, which made Verstappen furious. This conflict reached a boiling point in Spain 2025, where Verstappen Russell got after a catch -up attempt, resulting in a time penalty of ten seconds and three penalty points (F1Maximaal.nl, 2 June 2025). Mol analyzed this incident as a relapse in Verstappen’s “old, aggressive” driving style, but emphasized Russell’s role as an instigator. “Russell is milking these kinds of situations,” said Mol, referring to Russell’s complaints at the British press, such as Sky Sports, who strongly criticized Verstappen (GPBlog.com, June 3, 2025).
Russell’s behavior behind the Safety Car in Canada is seen by Mol as a conscious attempt to provoke Verstappen. With Verstappen’s penalty points on eleven – one point away from a suspension – Mol speculated in theF1 at the table-Podcast (3 June 2025) that rivals such as Russell will now race extra aggressively to provoke Verstappen. “They know: if Max defends fiercely, he gets a penalty point and he is not a race,” said Mol. This tactical game feeds the tension, especially because Verstappen’s dominance was under pressure in 2025 by McLaren’s strong performance, with Oscar Piastri as championship leader (Motorsport.com, 2025).
Yet not everyone agrees with Mol’s harsh judgment. Russell himself nuanced his vision in Canada, where he oppositeGP33.nl(13 June 2025) Surprised to be surprised that Verstappen took responsibility for the Spain incident. “No problems between us,” said Russell, although he admitted that their relationship has been tense since Qatar. Some fans on X believe that Mol is too one -sided and Verstappen’s aggressive driving style trivializes. A user wrote: “Russell does what every driver would do: use the rules.” Nevertheless, Mol’s criticism continues to resonate, especially since he sees Russell’s actions such as unsporting and opportunistic, in contrast with Verstappen’s direct approach.
The Grand Prix of Canada also showed Verstappen’s resilience. Despite tire wear and a suboptimal Red Bull RB21, he finished second, behind Russell’s teammate Lewis Hamilton (GP33.nl, 2025). Mol praised Verstappen’s Race Pace, who was only fractions slower than McLaren’s, and emphasized that his strategic tire management in wet conditions was crucial (F1Maximaal.nl, 11 June 2024). This underlines why Mol Russell’s actions criticize: Verstappen’s talent and focus on racing are in stark contrast to what Mol sees as Russell’s “complaining” attitude.
Ferrari, for which Charles Leclerc drives, had a disappointing race in Canada, with Leclerc who only became eighth after strategic errors (The team, 2025). This reinforces the focus on the Verstappen-Russell dynamics, which continues to dominate the F1 heads. Mol’s statements, although controversial, reflect the passion of the sport and the high commitment to drivers and teams. While the season is progressing, the question will remain whether Russell’s tactics will give him success or further insulate him in the Paddock. For now, Despite the pressure, Verstappen remains the man to defeat, and Mol’s words keep the Formula 1 fans in their grip.
