Mercedes F1 star Canadian GP victory under threat as Red Bull protest over… read more
Mercedes Formula 1 driver George Russell has held on to his hard-fought victory at the Canadian Grand Prix, despite a dramatic post-race protest filed by Red Bull Racing. The controversy stemmed from a late-race incident during a safety car period, with Red Bull accusing Russell of questionable driving behavior that could have influenced the final race outcome.
The dispute arose when Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s star driver and reigning world champion, claimed that Russell braked unusually hard behind the safety car towards the end of the race. According to Verstappen, the abrupt deceleration caused him to briefly pass Russell, a moment that raised concerns within the Red Bull camp. Although the issue went unnoticed during the race itself, team principal Christian Horner and his crew later submitted a formal protest, alleging that Russell’s actions may have breached safety car regulations.
Under FIA regulations, any protest submitted after the race must be accompanied by new and compelling evidence. Red Bull hoped to meet that requirement by presenting telemetry data and on-board footage to support Verstappen’s claims. Their objective was to have Russell penalized for what they saw as erratic and potentially dangerous behavior, which could have unfairly impacted the race order.
Had the stewards agreed with Red Bull’s argument, Russell would likely have received a time penalty, which could have altered the race result and handed victory to Verstappen, who finished just behind him in second place. Both drivers were summoned by the stewards to provide their version of events, and a thorough review was conducted to determine whether Russell had indeed committed any infractions.
After careful examination, the stewards concluded that Russell had not acted improperly during the safety car period. They found no evidence of intentional braking or behavior that violated race protocols. As a result, Red Bull’s protest was formally dismissed, allowing Russell to retain his win in Montreal.
This marks a significant milestone for Russell, who has been seeking another Grand Prix victory to solidify his place as a top-tier driver at Mercedes. His performance throughout the Canadian GP weekend had been strong, with a commanding drive that kept rivals like Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris at bay. Despite the late drama, Russell was praised for maintaining composure under pressure.
For Red Bull, the decision represents a rare setback in their typically dominant run. Though Verstappen still secured a valuable second-place finish, the team was visibly frustrated by the outcome. Nevertheless, Horner stated that they respected the stewards’ decision and would now turn their focus to the next race on the calendar.
In the end, the late protest added a layer of tension to what was already a gripping Grand Prix. But with the matter now settled, George Russell stands as the undisputed winner of the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix, with Verstappen and Norris rounding
out the podium.
