Lawson reveals 'so funny' Verstappen-Russell dinner set-up

New Red Bull driver Liam Lawson has revealed that a seat next to Max Verstappen was left on purpose for George Russell, at the end-of-season drivers' meal. 

It has become tradition for the drivers to enjoy a meal together in Abu Dhabi ahead of the season finale; however, the latest meal was overshadowed by tension between Verstappen and Russell.

The two drivers clashed towards the end of the 2024 F1 season, following an incident after qualifying in Qatar in the stewards' office, which resulted in both drivers claiming they had lost all respect for each other.

It boiled over into Abu Dhabi and the end-of-season drivers' meal, where those who arrived first intentionally left the only seats available next to Verstappen. 

The drivers' plan worked to perfection, as Russell arrived to find only seats next to the four-time world champion available.

Lawson was asked about what exactly unfolded at the meal whilst making an appearance on the Pitstop podcast, but was initially unsure whether to reveal the "funny" story.

"Okay, I'll tell you, then we can decide to put it in, because this is fucking funny, it's really funny," Lawson said. "So we rock up and we're at this big table, me and Yuki got there together, and we weren't the first people there. 

"There were probably like six or seven people there, but as the table was filling up, there was basically pretty much one side of the table was pretty much all full. 

"There was Max opposite me, and then there was like three chairs to the left at the end of the table that were left. And George hadn't turned up at this point, he hadn't arrived yet. So, you know, we were like, 'this is perfect'. 

"Everybody that was coming before them, we were like, 'fill that side of the table. We're going to save this spot for George, right next to Max.' 

"And then George arrives, and we were all like 'ayyyyyyy', and then Max is like, 'mate, we've saved a seat for you.' George just picks up the chair and walks to the other end of the table, sits on the other side of the table, with Lewis, with that end of the table. 

"Man, we were all like, 'oh my god', we thought it would be funny. It wasn't funny. Yeah, it was funny for us."

Lawson was then asked whether Russell said anything when he arrived, to which Lawson revealed: "Nothing. Honestly, it was so funny. We kind of expected them to maybe put it on hold for dinner, like for the drivers dinner, but, no. 

"He [Russell] first went around the table saying hi to everybody. And we thought when he came back he would sit down, but he just came back, picked up the chair, and went to the other end."