George Russell Secures Canadian GP Win After Protest Dismissed

George Russell has officially kept his Canadian Grand Prix victory after Formula 1 stewards rejected the protest submitted by Red Bull Racing on Sunday night. The ruling came nearly six hours after the chequered flag at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, following an incident-filled race that saw drama erupt in the closing laps.

Russell, driving for Mercedes, held off Max Verstappen after a late safety car, but Verstappen’s team argued that Russell’s brake maneuver during the safety car period bordered on erratic and unfair.

The incident took place with three laps left after Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris of McLaren collided, eliminating Norris and prompting a safety car.

As the pack slowed, Russell braked suddenly. Verstappen, running directly behind in his Red Bull, briefly pulled ahead.

Verstappen reported over the radio that Russell’s sharp braking forced him to pass. His race engineer assured him they would review potential erratic driving from Russell.

On the other side, Russell told his own engineer that Verstappen had overtaken him under the safety car. Red Bull’s appeal centered on the claim that Russell’s braking was intentional, with suggestions he wanted Verstappen to pass and be penalized for overtaking under safety car rules.

According to Formula 1 regulations, overtaking is not allowed while the safety car is on track unless drivers are specifically instructed to do so. Penalties for such violations can influence podium results and even championship points.

After careful review in a post-race hearing, stewards found the protest was not justified. They saw no evidence that Russell purposely tried to manipulate Verstappen into a penalty.

The final ruling meant Russell secured his second Canadian Grand Prix win, while Verstappen settled for second place. This decision allowed Russell, 26, to celebrate a hard-fought victory with the Mercedes team, one that followed his pole position lap on Saturday.

Max Verstappen’s runner-up finish maintains his strong run in the 2025 season, with Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes completing the podium in third. Russell’s win bolstered Mercedes’ position in the constructors’ standings, pushing them to second with 199 points, though McLaren continues to lead with 374 points.

Red Bull remains fourth among the teams after ten races. Russell’s win marks a turnaround from last season, where he lost a race due to a technical infringement.

With the Canadian Grand Prix complete, teams now look ahead to the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring on June 29. Drivers and fans anticipate more close racing as the season continues.

The decision in Montreal brings clarity to the results and allows Russell’s victory to stand, closing another tense chapter in the 2025 Formula 1 championship.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.