FIA release official statement over disqualification of Red Bull’s….read more
The FIA has officially rejected a protest lodged by Red Bull Racing against Mercedes driver George Russell in the aftermath of the 2025 Miami Grand Prix. The challenge stemmed from an alleged infraction involving yellow flag regulations, which Red Bull believed could have had a direct impact on the final race results—specifically the placement of Max Verstappen, who finished just behind Russell in fourth.
The incident in question occurred during a phase of the race when yellow flags were temporarily waved due to a track hazard, prompting mandatory caution among the drivers. Red Bull claimed that Russell, who was directly ahead of Verstappen at the time, did not comply with the expectations set forth by Formula 1’s Sporting Regulations regarding behavior under yellow flag conditions.
The team cited Article 26.1(a) of the regulations, which clearly states that drivers are required to “discernibly reduce speed” when passing through any section of the circuit affected by yellow flags. Red Bull argued that although Russell marginally eased off the throttle, his overall speed through the caution zone did not reflect the level of deceleration expected in such scenarios.
To support their claim, Red Bull presented both telemetry data and onboard video evidence, comparing Russell’s actions with those of Verstappen. According to the team, Verstappen visibly and measurably reduced his speed more significantly than Russell while traversing the flagged area. They suggested that Russell’s brief lift off the accelerator did not align with the spirit or the letter of the rule, which is intended to ensure drivers proceed with clear caution and reduced speed to maintain safety on track.
Red Bull emphasized that if Russell had properly complied with the yellow flag directive, Verstappen might have been able to overtake him, thus potentially securing a podium finish. In their view, Russell’s insufficient slowdown constituted an unfair advantage gained during a critical part of the race. The protest was not just about a single position but also highlighted a broader concern regarding the consistent enforcement of yellow flag regulations across all teams and drivers.
However, after reviewing the data and examining all the evidence provided, the FIA concluded that there was no clear breach of the rules by Russell. The stewards determined that while the pace reduction was indeed minimal, it was sufficient to meet the standard required under the current interpretation of the regulation. The ruling emphasized that the lifting of the throttle, combined with the driving behavior observed in telemetry, did amount to a discernible reduction in speed, even if it wasn’t dramatically apparent on video footage.
The FIA’s decision to dismiss the protest effectively secures Russell’s third-place finish in Miami, while Verstappen retains fourth. Red Bull has since expressed disappointment in the ruling but accepted the outcome, choosing not to pursue further appeals. The incident has reignited discussions within the paddock regarding how yellow flag infractions are judged and whether the guidelines should be tightened to eliminate ambiguities in future races.
