The Canadian Grand Prix stewards have dismissed a protest against race winner George Russell after Red Bull alleged the Mercedes driver drove erratically and showed “unsportsmanlike intent”.
Red Bull protested Russell on the grounds that he committed violations of the sporting regulations, but also the International Sporting Code when behind the safety car late in the Montreal race after a collision between the two McLaren drivers.
It was alleged that Russell braked unnecessarily and erratically behind the safety car, causing Verstappen to briefly overtake him, and that when Russell reported this on his team radio, it showed “unsportsmanlike intent” trying to provoke an investigation into Verstappen.
Red Bull, using telemetry indicating brake and throttle input, argued Russell suddenly braked on the straight before the final chicane - and had looked in his mirrors before doing so, suggesting it was premeditated and a ploy to get Verstappen to commit an illegal overtake.
The team also felt that this was further proven by the fact Russell must have known the race was going to end under the safety car, so such action to maintain temperature in his brakes and tyres was unnecessary.
In defence, Mercedes said braking to maintain tyre and brake temperature is standard, and that Russell was trying to get the safety car to speed up, unsure if the race would end under safety car conditions.
Its own data indicated the brake pressure applied was modest, and that Russell had checked his mirrors to ensure safety, not to bait Verstappen - likewise, reporting the overtake was not intended to provoke a penalty, it was factual, and no formal complaint was made by the team to race control.
From the FIA’s side, it was reported that the incident was looked at in real time by race control and no action was deemed necessary.
The stewards accepted Russell’s explanation that his braking was appropriate and not excessive. They also felt there was no unsportsmanlike behaviour as simply informing his team of the overtake does not constitute misconduct - and stressed that “even though the protest did not allege it, we are also satisfied that by braking where and when he did and to the extent he did, [Russell] did not engage in unsportsmanlike conduct”.
The protest was therefore rejected. Russell kept his first win of the season, with Verstappen second.
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