Why George Russell Got a Drive-Through Penalty at Monaco GP

Mercedes driver George Russell received a drive-through penalty during the Monaco Grand Prix for overtaking Alex Albon off the track. The incident occurred on lap 50, with Russell chasing points while Albon slowed to help his Williams teammate, Carlos Sainz, prepare for a pit window.

Russell took the inside at the Nouvelle Chicane, cut the corner, and passed Albon. He explained on team radio that he did this to avoid contact due to Albon’s “erratic” driving.

Instead of giving the position back, Russell kept the place, expecting the usual 10-second time penalty for the infringement. This standard sanction has been in place since the 2024 Miami Grand Prix, where Haas driver Kevin Magnussen used time penalties to maintain position. For more context on FIA penalty regulations, refer to the FIA Sporting Regulations.

At Monaco, where overtaking is difficult, a simple time penalty can be a risk worth taking for drivers aiming to gain places. However, messages between Russell and his Mercedes team caught the FIA’s attention, revealing he passed deliberately and intended only to accept the penalty while keeping his position on track.

Because of this, stewards issued a more severe punishment—a drive-through penalty—making it impossible for Russell to retain his spot ahead of Albon. They had warned teams before the race that penalties could exceed usual guidelines to prevent drivers from exploiting rules on Monaco’s narrow streets.

The stewards’ written decision noted that Russell “did not give that position back and maintained his track position,” using his radio call as evidence of deliberate intent.

This was not the only instance of Mercedes pushing track limits in the race. On lap 52, rookie teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli made a nearly identical move on Albon but was immediately instructed by his engineers to return the place and avoid punishment.

Both Mercedes drivers had challenging weekends. Antonelli qualified 15th following an early crash, while Russell started 14th due to an electrical issue in Q2. Russell finished the race 11th, just outside the points, and Antonelli crossed in 18th after a late second pit stop.

The penalty rules for gaining an advantage by leaving the track were updated at the start of 2024 after drivers in Miami exploited multiple five-second penalties to block rivals. Stewards now enforce a minimum 10-second penalty. For a deeper understanding of these rule changes, visit the Formula 1 official website.

Despite this, Monaco demonstrated that even a 10-second penalty is not always enough to deter risky moves. The event highlighted how closely stewards must monitor clever and dangerous maneuvers, especially in the tight battle for every point. For more detailed insights on the race dynamics, see the coverage of the Monaco Grand Prix two-stop strategy.

The weekend was far from a Monaco clean weekend for Mercedes, with multiple team issues affecting performance. For additional analysis on Monaco’s unique challenges, check out this Monte Carlo circuit guide by RaceFans.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.