Breaking News: FIA Explains Decision to Reject Red Bull’s Protest Against Mercedes’ George Russell
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has provided a detailed explanation for rejecting Red Bull’s protest against Mercedes driver George Russell, following the Miami Grand Prix. The protest, which was lodged by Red Bull, centered on Russell’s alleged failure to reduce his speed during a yellow-flag period, as mandated by Article 26.1 a) of the FIA sporting regulations.
According to the regulations, drivers are required to “reduce their speed and be prepared to change direction” when passing through a waved yellow-flag marshaling sector. Red Bull argued that Russell had not complied with this requirement, as he did not reduce his absolute speed when passing through the yellow-flag zone.
However, Mercedes countered that Russell had indeed reduced his speed by lifting the throttle, which is a common practice accepted by all teams and the FIA. The team also suggested that Russell had lifted more than Verstappen had observed.
After reviewing onboard footage and telemetry data from Russell’s car, the stewards concluded that Russell had indeed “lifted the throttle when passing the yellow-flag zone, resulting in a reduction of torque of approximately 30%.” While Russell’s absolute speed increased slightly, the stewards determined that his speed was “considerably slower than the regular racing speed” in that part of the track.
The stewards’ decision hinged on their interpretation of the relevant article in the sporting regulations. They determined that the requirement to “discernibly reduce speed” in a yellow-flag zone refers to a reduction relative to the regular racing speed, rather than an absolute reduction in speed. This interpretation is crucial, as it acknowledges that drivers may need to adjust their speed relative to the specific section of the track, rather than simply reducing their absolute speed.
In rejecting Red Bull’s protest, the stewards emphasized that a reduction in relative speed is a more reliable indicator of a driver’s compliance with the regulations. They noted that, in certain situations, such as braking zones, an absolute reduction in speed may not necessarily indicate compliance with the regulations.
As a result of the stewards’ decision, Red Bull’s protest was rejected, and their €2,000 deposit was forfeited. The decision serves as a clarification of the regulations and provides guidance for drivers and teams on the expected behavior during yellow-flag periods.
