Max Verstappen caught appearing to give George Russell middle finger in Austrian GP practice

An onboard clip from Friday practice at the Austrian Grand Prix has surfaced online, appearing to show Max Verstappen flipping the middle finger at George Russell as the Red Bull driver overtook the Mercedes through Turn 7. The gesture, which was not caught by the main television broadcast, quickly spread across social media and added another chapter to the pair’s increasingly tense on-track relationship.

Why it matters:

Verstappen and Russell have history when it comes to on-track run-ins, and this moment comes at a time when the Dutchman is fighting to turn around a difficult season while being linked with a potential move to Mercedes. For Russell, who is currently trying to stay in championship contention against teammate Kimi Antonelli, any distraction or friction with a rival is unwelcome as he looks to secure his long-term future with the Silver Arrows.

The details:

• During FP2 at the Red Bull Ring, Verstappen’s onboard camera captured him removing his left hand from the wheel while passing Russell’s W17, directing a middle finger toward the Briton. The exact reason remains unconfirmed, though impeding during the session is the most likely explanation.
• Verstappen’s frustration follows a difficult start to the weekend. His RB22 barely made it out of the pit lane in FP1, and he later complained over the radio about a completely different seat position in FP2 before finishing fourth in both sessions, half a second off pacesetter Antonelli.
• Russell, meanwhile, has shut down any speculation about his future by confirming he will remain at Mercedes for 2027. He told reporters in Austria that there is “no question mark” over his deal and that no extension talks were even necessary with Toto Wolff.
• Despite publicly stating a desire to see out his career at Red Bull, Verstappen is widely reported to hold a performance-related exit clause. Sitting P7 in the Drivers’ standings, his name continues to dominate the 2026 driver market conversation.

What's next:

While the finger gesture is unlikely to draw formal sanction from the stewards, it underscores the raw tension between two drivers who could find themselves in direct competition more often as the season develops. Russell’s Mercedes future is locked in, but Verstappen’s next move remains the biggest question in the paddock as the summer races approach.