FIA Hands George Russell Double Penalty After Canadian Grand Prix Blunder
Mercedes F1 driver George Russell received two separate penalties during a single session at the Canadian Grand Prix, the FIA has confirmed, marking yet another incident in a weekend filled with controversy.
The infractions occurred during a practice session, where Russell was caught speeding in the pit lane twice—once at the beginning of the session by 0.1 km/h and again at the end by 0.2 km/h over the limit. Despite the tiny margins, FIA rules are clear: any pit lane speeding, no matter how slight, warrants a fine.
Each offense resulted in a €100 fine, bringing the total to €200. These minor financial penalties are customary in practice sessions and are usually covered by the team rather than the driver. However, they still count as official violations and add to the pressure on Mercedes as they navigate a highly competitive and tense 2025 season.
Adding to the drama, the FIA made a last-minute change to the stewarding team. Longtime steward Derek Warwick was removed overnight due to “unauthorised comments” made to the media. He was replaced by Enrique Bernoldi, who fulfilled his duties remotely from Geneva. Although unrelated to Russell’s penalty, the sudden change has fueled ongoing concerns about consistency and transparency in FIA officiating.
While Russell’s speeding was minor compared to past incidents—like Sergio Perez’s notorious 120.6 km/h violation at Silverstone in 2021—his double fine highlights how closely driver behavior is being watched this season. That case saw no sporting penalty, only a €1,000 fine, which underscores the FIA’s unpredictable handling of such infractions.
With recent controversies involving Ferrari and McLaren already stirring debate, including Oscar Piastri’s heavily criticized penalty earlier in the Canadian GP weekend, every FIA decision is now under intense scrutiny.
Though Mercedes will handle the financial penalty, the incident further reflects the heightened tension between teams and officials. As the F1 circus moves on to the next race, all eyes will remain fixed on how the FIA manages both discipline and perception in what has become one of the most turbulent seasons in recent memory.
