George Russell criticises rivals as FIA confirms decision on Verstappen incident
Mercedes driver George Russell has openly criticised a rival team after reports emerged that some competitors pushed back against a proposed rule change within Formula One. The British driver described the stance as “selfish,” suggesting certain teams were prioritising their own competitive advantage rather than the broader interests of the sport.
Russell has enjoyed an impressive start to the 2026 season, particularly during the race weekend at the Shanghai International Circuit for the Chinese Grand Prix. Driving the new Mercedes W17, Russell has been among the fastest drivers on the grid and has helped Mercedes establish itself as an early frontrunner in the championship battle.
However, despite the car’s strong performance, Russell admitted that the W17 still has areas that need improvement. Rival teams have reportedly identified one particular weakness in the Mercedes package and are attempting to exploit it during race weekends. According to Russell, discussions around a potential regulatory tweak that could have addressed the issue were blocked by at least one competing team.
While Russell did not explicitly name the team involved, his comments made it clear that he believes the opposition’s actions were motivated by self-interest rather than fairness.
“We all want the sport to move forward,” Russell explained during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend. “But sometimes decisions get blocked because it benefits certain teams in the short term. That’s disappointing because the aim should always be to improve the racing for everyone.”
FIA delivers verdict after Verstappen–Gasly qualifying incident
Meanwhile, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) also issued an official ruling regarding an incident involving Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly during Sprint Qualifying in Shanghai.
The moment occurred during the SQ2 session when Verstappen was beginning a flying lap. As the Red Bull driver approached at speed, Gasly’s Alpine appeared to be on the racing line ahead of him. Verstappen was forced to react quickly to avoid a potential collision, which disrupted his lap and compromised his qualifying effort.
Because of the incident, the stewards launched an investigation to determine whether Gasly had impeded Verstappen illegally. After reviewing telemetry data, onboard footage, and team communications, the FIA concluded that Gasly’s actions did not warrant a penalty.
The stewards determined that Gasly had been preparing for his own lap and that the situation developed too quickly for the Alpine driver to completely move out of Verstappen’s path. As a result, the FIA decided that no further action would be taken.
The ruling meant that Gasly was allowed to keep his qualifying position, having ended the session ahead of Verstappen.
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Mercedes dominate as Red Bull struggle in Shanghai
The Sprint Qualifying session itself proved challenging for Red Bull. Verstappen and teammate Isack Hadjar both struggled to match the pace of their main competitors throughout Friday’s running.
While Red Bull managed to avoid an early elimination in SQ1, their overall performance raised concerns. Verstappen ultimately qualified outside the top positions, a surprising outcome for the four-time world champion who has dominated recent seasons.
In contrast, Mercedes delivered a commanding display of speed. Russell and rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli once again demonstrated the strength of the W17 by locking out the front row for the sprint race. Their performance highlighted Mercedes’ resurgence as a serious title contender in 2026.
The early results in Shanghai suggest the competitive order may be shifting, with Mercedes gaining momentum while Red Bull works to resolve performance issues.
With the sprint race and main Grand Prix still ahead, teams will continue analysing data and adjusting their strategies. For Russell and Mercedes, however, the weekend has already provided a strong indication that their new car could play a major role in the championship fight this season. 🏁
