After the Canada Grand Prix, Red Bull officially protested the victory of Pilot Mercedes George Russell. The race, disputed on the Gilles-Villeneuve de Montréal circuit, ended with a controversial moment that shone. Russell, who had dominated the race since pole position, saw his victory threatened by an incident at the end of the race involving Max Verstappen. The two pilots were summoned to commissioners, and the outcome of this protest could change the result of the race.
The race took place without a major incident, Russell keeping the head from the start and Verstappen constantly in second position. The Dutchman could not really threaten the Mercedes driver, despite a solid performance by Red Bull. However, things started in the last laps, when a collision between McLaren Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri pilots triggered an intervention by Safety Car. This has tightened the ranks and offered an exciting final, disputed under Safety Car.
During this Safety because Red Bull phase, Red Bull has proven the proof of his complaint. On the right side, Russell suddenly held back violently, which pushed Verstappen to join him and even to exceed him. Verstappen immediately reacted, complaining about Russell’s behavior via on -board radio. “George suddenly slowed down very violently,” said the quadruple world champion, visibly frustrated by the situation. His racing engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, immediately reacted and promised to investigate the incident to detect possible irregularities in Russell’s behavior.
Russell was not silent on board radio. He pointed out to his team that Verstappen had exceeded it under Safetycar, which could be an offense in the regulations. It was a strategic maneuver on the part of the British pilot, perhaps an attempt to put Verstappen in difficulty. Verstappen has currently eleven penalty points for its super license, and an additional penalty for this incident could lead to an automatic suspension for a race, a blow for the Red Bull driver.
However, Lambiase quickly addressed a warning to Verstappen. After thinking about the incident, he said about the radio: “The incident with Russell is now visible in the images, Max, it’s quite clear. Don’t be involved in this match, okay? THANKS. This comment suggests that Red Bull suspects Russell for having deliberately tried to provoke Verstappen, which, in their eyes, is antactive behavior.
Red Bull’s complaint relates to two specific points: the alleged erratic behavior of Russell behind the security car and the possibility that he deliberately tried to cause an offense on the part of Verstappen. The commissioners will now analyze telemetry and video images to determine if Russell has broken the regulations. A possible sanction, such as a time penalty, could cost him the victory, since the race behind the security car ended and the time differences were minimal. In this case, Verstappen could be declared victorious.
For Russell, the loss of this victory would be a bitter pill. The British pilot achieved an almost perfect performance in Canada, offering Mercedes his first victory of the season. After the race, he was euphoric and congratulated his team for his hard work. “It’s great to be on the highest step,” he said when he left his car. However, a shadow now hovers on this triumph, while the commissioners are preparing their decision.
The rivalry between Red Bull and Mercedes, which has often wreaked havoc in the past, seems to ignite again. Earlier this season, Red Bull had already filed a complaint against Russell after the Miami Grand Prix, a complaint which was then rejected. This new incident adds additional tension to an already intense formula 1 season. While the F1 caravan is preparing for the next race in Austria, the world of motorsport retains its breath while waiting for the declaration of the commissioners in Montreal.
