Russell disgusted by Red Bull protest

Last Updated on June 18 2025, 10:36 am

Russell slams Red Bull’s ‘pointless’ protest after Canadian GP drama – George Russell has criticised Red Bull Racing, branding the team’s protest against his conduct in Montreal as a needless disruption that caused inconvenience without yielding any results. Speaking ahead of the star-studded premiere of the new Formula 1 film, which stars Brad Pitt and is produced by Lewis Hamilton, the Mercedes driver made it clear that he was unimpressed by the energy drinks outfit’s antics in the aftermath of the Canadian Grand Prix.

The controversy erupted when Red Bull filed two formal protests against Russell following the race. The complaints centred on the Briton’s alleged unsporting and dangerous driving while behind the safety car, a claim that the stewards ultimately rejected. Red Bull withdrew one of the protests before any verdict was issued. The other, which was reviewed in full, was also dismissed. However, this did not stop it from causing headaches — and missed flights — for key Mercedes personnel.

 

Even Max doesn’t know what’s going on

“I don’t even think Max knew what was going on,” remarked Russell, referencing Red Bull’s star driver.

“He didn’t seem to know there had even been a protest. I don’t know what Red Bull were thinking or what they were hoping to achieve. It was a complete waste of time.”

According to Russell, the consequences of the protest extended far beyond the racetrack. Mercedes’ trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, and team manager, Ron Meadows, were detained for so long that they missed their scheduled flights home.

‘That’s obviously inconvenient for everyone involved,” said Russell. “But it’s behind us now, and we’re focused on the races ahead.”

 

Red Bull’s post-race gamble falls flat

The protests, which were filed late after the Canadian Grand Prix had already concluded and been celebrated, raised eyebrows across the paddock. Red Bull’s main accusation was that Russell had engaged in erratic braking and unsportsmanlike behaviour while under the safety car, possibly to manipulate tyre temperatures or disrupt the drivers behind him.

However, the FIA stewards saw no grounds to uphold either claim, dismissing the allegations outright.

The timing of the protest was also questioned. Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, branded the move “petty” and “embarrassing”, pointing out that Red Bull had withdrawn one complaint before the other had even been considered.

“They tried the same nonsense in Miami,” said Wolff, referring to an earlier Red Bull protest.

“They keep digging into obscure clauses and loopholes, and it’s getting ridiculous. I’m surprised they didn’t lodge a protest over the popcorn being too salty at the film premiere.”

 

Horner’s shadow looms large, but was he even behind it?

Although Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is assumed to have sanctioned the protest, neither he nor Max Verstappen has publicly taken responsibility for the decision. Wolff, for his part, suggested that Verstappen himself wasn’t behind the idea, describing him as a “real racer” who wouldn’t want to win on paper rather than on the track.

This view was reinforced when GPblog followed up with Verstappen’s team. Sources close to the reigning world champion confirmed that he had no knowledge of the protest being filed on his behalf. Verstappen appeared blindsided when asked about it later.

“I think everyone just wants to move on,” Russell concluded.

“It’s already a tight season; the last thing we need is people staying up late to write reports and missing their flights over something that didn’t even make it past the stewards.”

 

A pattern emerging?

This isn’t the first time that Red Bull has found itself under scrutiny for exploiting the protest system. In Miami earlier this season, a similar attempt was made to challenge Mercedes’ race result — again with little success and plenty of noise. Some in the paddock now wonder whether these protest tactics are part of a broader strategy to put rival teams under pressure.

But if the goal was to rattle Russell or Mercedes, it doesn’t seem to have worked.

“I’m not fazed by it,” said Russell. “We won the race fair and square. If they’re fishing for something to overturn that, they’ll need a better rod.”

 

The bigger picture

This season’s championship battle has already been fraught with controversy, with Mercedes clawing their way back into contention while Red Bull fights to maintain their lead despite having a less dominant car than in previous years. With McLaren also in the mix and Ferrari continuing to show flashes of brilliance, albeit inconsistently, every psychological advantage counts.

Protests like Red Bull’s may be as much about unsettling rivals as they are about securing on-track advantages. However, with two failed protests in quick succession, this approach could be backfiring, making Red Bull appear desperate rather than determined.

For now, Russell’s focus is forward. “We’re locked in an exciting battle for the championship,” he said. ‘I’d rather be talking about lap times than legal arguments.’

Whether Red Bull will try again and whether the FIA will tolerate repeated speculative protests remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the gloves are off and this year’s Formula 1 title fight is about more than just speed. It’s personal, political — and increasingly procedural.