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FIA Dismisses Red Bull’s Protest Against George Russell After Miami Grand Prix
The FIA has officially rejected a protest lodged by Red Bull Racing following the Miami Grand Prix, confirming that Mercedes driver George Russell will retain his third-place podium finish. The protest was submitted after the race concluded and centered on allegations that Russell failed to adequately slow down under yellow flag conditions.
Red Bull accused Russell of breaching Appendix H, Article 2.5.5 b) of the International Sporting Code, which mandates that drivers must significantly reduce their speed under yellow flag signals. These conditions are meant to indicate potential danger on the track and require drivers to be prepared to change direction or stop if necessary.
According to Red Bull, while Russell did lift off the throttle momentarily when the yellow flags were displayed, he allegedly did not sufficiently reduce his speed. They argued that this action did not meet the full requirements of the regulation, which demands more than just a throttle lift – it requires a clear reduction in pace to ensure safety.
The incident in question occurred during a segment of the race where the yellow flags were briefly shown due to an on-track issue. Red Bull’s contention was that Russell’s actions gave him an advantage during a critical part of the race, potentially impacting the final standings. If the protest had been upheld, it could have resulted in a time penalty for Russell, thereby altering the race results and possibly promoting Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez or another driver to the podium.
However, after reviewing the telemetry data, onboard footage, and hearing from the involved parties, the stewards determined that Russell’s response to the yellow flag was adequate under the circumstances. The FIA concluded that there was no conclusive evidence to prove he had breached the regulation in a manner that warranted a penalty. As a result, the protest was deemed unfounded.
This decision ensures that George Russell’s P3 result stands, giving Mercedes a valuable boost in points and momentum. For Red Bull, the protest rejection means they must accept the final classification as it stands.
The ruling also highlights the strict standards teams must meet when filing protests, and reinforces the stewards’ discretion in interpreting compliance with flag rules during dynamic race scenarios. The Miami Grand Prix result is now final, with no further changes expected.
