Jenson Button has picked sides on the controversial decision which led to Max Verstappen’s brutal attack on George Russell. After winning Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix, Verstappen launched into an explosive tirade about Russell, saying he had lost all respect for the Mercedes driver.

Meanwhile, Russell said he feared the world champion would crash into him at the start of the race. Verstappen’s fury revolved around an incident which saw him lose pole position, which subsequently went to Russell.

After both drivers were called to the stewards’ room after qualifying, it was deemed that Verstappen had impeded Russell as both men prepared for quick laps in Q3 and was handed a one-place grid penalty.

While Verstappen’s rage was aimed at Russell, former world champion Button has slammed the FIA for the penalty which caused the row.

Addressing the incident on Sky Sports, Button exclaimed: “The problem for me is that he’s [Verstappen] got Fernando Alonso in front of him doing exactly the same speed.

“It’s not like Max has just gone, ‘You know what? I’m going to put the anchors on and hit the brakes right in the middle of a high-speed corner.’

“He’s got the same distance to the car in front the whole way through Turn 12, 13. It’s shocking to me that he got a penalty, it really is. It felt like it should have been the same as everyone else.”