Disaster Strikes George Russell: Hit with Double Penalty at Pit l… read more
Mercedes Formula 1 driver George Russell found himself on the receiving end of two penalties during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, as confirmed by the FIA. The British driver was penalised twice in the same session for minor breaches of the pit lane speed limit—an unusually strict enforcement from the governing body. These incidents occurred during one of the practice sessions, with Russell clocked slightly over the speed limit on two separate occasions.
The infractions themselves were marginal. On the first occasion, Russell exceeded the pit lane speed limit by just 0.1 km/h, while the second incident saw him over by 0.2 km/h. In both cases, the speed overage was minimal and far from dangerous. Nevertheless, under FIA regulations, even the smallest violation of the pit lane speed limit constitutes a breach, which warrants a fine.
In most practice sessions, infractions of this type usually result in a standard financial penalty of €100 per incident. Russell’s situation followed that norm, with each speeding offence incurring a €100 fine. Despite the double penalty, the sporting consequences were minimal, with no grid penalties or time deductions involved. As is customary, the financial burden of the fines will be covered by the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team rather than Russell personally.
The situation drew extra attention due to a change in the FIA’s stewarding panel between sessions. Veteran steward Derek Warwick was removed from his post overnight after making unauthorised comments to the media. He was replaced by former F1 driver Enrique Bernoldi, who oversaw the session remotely from Geneva. While the shakeup did not affect the final decision regarding Russell’s penalties, it added a layer of intrigue to the story.
Pit lane speeding is taken seriously by race officials due to the safety risks posed in the narrow and often congested area. Although Russell’s infractions were negligible, the FIA maintains a strict zero-tolerance approach to uphold safety standards. However, there are cases when stewards have acted with greater leniency—or severity—based on the context. For instance, in 2021, Sergio Perez was clocked at a staggering 120.6 km/h in the Silverstone pit lane, more than 50% over the limit. Even then, Perez only received a €1,000 fine and no sporting penalty, highlighting that financial penalties are the most common consequence.
Such fines are routine over a Grand Prix weekend, particularly in practice sessions where drivers are often testing systems and limits. Canada has already seen multiple drivers fined for pit lane speeding this weekend alone. While these minor penalties may not influence the race outcome, they serve as reminders of the strict regulatory environment in which Formula 1 operates.
In Russell’s case, while the double fine might appear harsh given the minuscule speed excesses, the FIA’s stance remains clear—rules are rules, no matter how slight the breach.
