Verstappen: Questions about penalty points, Russell 'pissing me off'

MONTREAL - Qualifying alongside George Russell on the front row at the Canadian Grand Prix has furthered talk of Max Verstappen's 11 penalty points, but the reigning world champion says he's fed up with speaking about it.

"I don't need to hear it again," Verstappen, who will start second, said Saturday during the post-qualifying news conference. "It's really pissing me off. You speaking about it ... it's such a waste of time. It's very childish. That's why I also don't want to say too much because it's really annoying."

Verstappen received three penalty points after crashing into Russell at the last race in Barcelona, putting him one point away from a race ban. Verstappen took responsibility for the incident in an Instagram post a day after the Barcelona race, which surprised Russell, who said Thursday that was not like the Red Bull pilot.

Verstappen added Thursday, "I'm just going to race like I always do," according to Jenna Fryer of The Associated Press.

Russell poked fun at the incident after qualifying on pole in Montreal.

"We're mates, it's all good," the Mercedes driver quipped. "I've got a few more points on my license to play with."

It's the second consecutive year that Russell and Verstappen will start the Canadian Grand Prix first and second, respectively.