FIA announce Russell penalty verdict after Bahrain tim….read more
George Russell has retained his second-place finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix after the FIA stewards decided not to impose a penalty following an investigation into a potential rules breach involving the Drag Reduction System (DRS).
The Mercedes driver, who delivered a strong performance to finish behind race winner Max Verstappen, came under scrutiny after appearing to activate his DRS in a section of the track where it is not allowed. According to regulations, DRS can only be used in designated zones and when a car is within one second of the vehicle ahead. At the time in question, Russell was not within that limit, raising concerns of a rule violation.
The incident occurred when Russell’s rear wing opened briefly outside of the allowed DRS zone, which triggered an automatic investigation. If the stewards had deemed the action to have given him an advantage, it could have resulted in a time penalty of either five or ten seconds, potentially affecting his podium result.
However, after thoroughly reviewing telemetry data and race footage, the FIA concluded that Russell did not benefit in a sporting sense from the incident. The analysis showed that although the DRS activation gave Russell a momentary advantage—amounting to just 0.02 seconds on the straight—he subsequently slowed down significantly at the next corner, losing approximately 0.28 seconds. This loss effectively nullified any benefit gained from the illegal DRS usage.
Further investigation revealed that the unintentional activation was the result of a technical and communication error within the Mercedes team. Russell had been attempting to respond to a team radio message but instead pressed a multifunctional auxiliary button on his steering wheel. That button, due to a backup configuration, also manually activates the DRS. The stewards determined that the DRS was engaged manually for only 37 meters of the 700-meter straight.
The root of the issue was a failure in the automatic DRS activation system, caused by a problem with the track’s timing loop system. This failure forced Mercedes to switch to manual DRS activation during the race. At the same time, Russell was experiencing problems with both his brakes and electronic systems, adding complexity to his cockpit controls. The auxiliary button he used functions both as a backup radio communication tool and a manual DRS trigger, which led to the unintended activation.
Considering all these factors, the FIA decided that the breach was not deliberate, and given that no clear advantage was gained, a penalty was not warranted. The ruling means that Russell keeps his second-place finish and the accompanying points, bolstering his position in the drivers’ standings.
The decision capped off an otherwise impressive weekend for the British driver, who showcased strong pace and composure under pressure. His podium finish not only demonstrated Mercedes’ competitiveness but also allowed him to close the gap slightly to Max Verstappen in the championship race.
The FIA emphasized that while rule compliance is paramount, each situation must be judged based on context and intent. In this instance, the governing body took into account the unique technical issues and Russell’s immediate actions to negate any advantage. The verdict was a relief for Mercedes, who are looking to build momentum early in the season.
With the Bahrain Grand Prix now in the books and Russell’s result confirmed, attention turns to the next round, where he and the team will aim to continue their strong form and maintain pressure on Red Bull at the top of the standing
