The Canadian Grand Prix weekend, June 13-15, 2025, proved to be an eventful one for Mercedes F1 star George Russell, who faced a double penalty from the FIA ​​for minor pit lane speeding offences during a practice session. The penalties, handed down by a reorganised stewards’ committee following the suspension of Derek Warwick for unauthorised media comments, underlined the FIA’s strict enforcement of the regulations. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen, embroiled in an ongoing rivalry with Russell, commented on their tense overtaking battle during the race, fuelling a narrative that has gripped the Formula 1 community.

Russell’s penalties stemmed from two separate instances of speeding in the pit lane during Friday’s free practice in Montreal. The first offence saw him exceed the limit by 0.1km/h, followed by a second infringement of 0.2km/h later in the session. Although these were minor offences, the FIA ​​rules are clear: exceeding the pit lane speed limit, typically set at 80km/h during practice, attracts a fine. Each of Russell’s offences resulted in a €100 fine, for a total of €200, which Mercedes is expected to cover, as is customary for such penalties. According to GPFans, pit lane speeding fines during free practice rarely carry sporting penalties, unlike races where a five-second penalty is often added. For context, Sergio Perez’s excessive speed of 120.6 km/h in the pit lane at the 2021 British Grand Prix (over 50% over the limit) cost him a €1,000 fine, but no further sporting consequences.

The panel of stewards that handed out these penalties was significantly reshuffled after veteran steward and former F1 driver Derek Warwick was suspended on June 13, 2025 for unauthorised comments to the media about Max Verstappen’s penalty at the Spanish Grand Prix two weeks earlier. Warwick spoke to betting site Plejmo, defending the FIA’s decision to hand Verstappen a 10-second penalty and three points for the collision with Russell. The FIA, citing a breach of neutrality, replaced Warwick with Enrique Bernoldi, who officiated remotely from Geneva. Warwick apologised, acknowledging that his comments were “ill-advised” and should resume duty at the Austrian Grand Prix, according to The Athletic. The shake-up ensured that Russell’s penalties were clear, as the infringements were clear and required minimal subjective judgement.

On track, the Canadian Grand Prix saw tensions between Russell and Verstappen escalate following their controversial clash in Spain. During the race on June 15, Russell, who started from pole, and Verstappen, who was second on the grid, went head to head. Verstappen referred to the incident at the Spanish Grand Prix, where he received a three-point penalty for colliding with Russell at Turn 5 after being told to drop a position. Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the race in Montreal, Verstappen said: “I race hard, I always have. What happened in Spain was a moment of frustration, but I carried on. George is also pushing hard – we are competitors, not enemies.” His comments followed a heated exchange in Spain, where Russell claimed Verstappen had threatened him in the stewards’ room, a claim Verstappen dismissed as “over the top” on Instagram.

Russell, reflecting on the Canadian Grand Prix, acknowledged the pitlane fines as “superficial mistakes” but stressed his focus on the race, where he secured a podium finish. “The team took the fines hard and we are here to win, not to dwell on mistakes in practice,” he told reporters. The incident reignited discussions about the FIA’s penalty system, with some fans on X arguing that Russell’s minor infringements had been more severely highlighted than Verstappen’s more serious Spanish collision, which left him just one point away from disqualification. Posts such as “Russell gets fined 0.1km/h, but Max hits him and skids?” have become popular, highlighting perceived inconsistencies.

The FIA’s actions in Canada, from Russell’s penalty to Warwick’s suspension, reflect their commitment to maintaining order in a tense season. Verstappen, now 49 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri, is under pressure to avoid further penalties, with two points expiring on June 30, 2025, according to ESPN. Russell, meanwhile, continues to champion Mercedes’ resurgence, with his pole position signaling their competitive advantage. As the season progresses, the rivalry between Verstappen and Russell, combined with the FIA’s rigorous oversight, promises further drama, with the Austrian Grand Prix looming as the next battleground.