Things are getting quite spicy in Formula One ... with Mercedes driver George Russell claiming four-time champion Max Verstappen threatened him at the Qatar Grand Prix.
The beef between the two drivers reached new heights last weekend ... after the Red Bull superstar received a one-place grid penalty for interfering with Russell in qualifying.
27-year-old Verstappen said he lost respect for Russell over the whole ordeal ... accusing the 26-year-old of being fake for lobbying for the punishment in a meeting with the stewards, but acting all buddy-buddy with him in public.