In a sensational turn after the Canadian Grand Prix, Red Bull has made an official protest against the victory of Mercedes driver George Russell. The race, which was held on the Gilles Villeneuve circuit in Montreal, ended with a controversial moment when the minds were busy. Russell, who drove a dominant race from Pole Position, saw his victory may be in danger due to an incident in the final phase of the race, involving Max Verstappen. Both drivers have been called to report to the stewards, and the outcome of this protest can change the result of the race.

The race was largely without major incidents, with Russell who retained the lead from the start and Verstappen who constantly rode in second place. The Dutchman could not really threaten the Mercedes driver, despite a solid performance by Red Bull. However, the drama started in the last laps, when a collision between the McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri led to a SafetyCar situation. This brought the field close together and provided an exciting final, which was driven behind the Safetycar.

During this safetycar phase, the crucial moment took place that Red Bull provides proof of their protest. On the right piece, Russell suddenly seemed to brake vigorously, so Verstappen came shortly next to him and even drove for him. This led to an immediate response from Verstappen, who complained about the on -board radio about the driving behavior of Russell. “George suddenly braked very aggressively,” said the four -time world champion, clearly frustrated by the situation. His racing engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, answered immediately and promised to investigate the incident for possible irregularities in Russell’s driving behavior.

On the other hand, Russell himself was not quiet over the on -board radio. He reported to his team that Verstappen had overtaken him under SafetyCar circumstances, which could be a violation of the rules. This seemed like a strategic move from the British driver, possibly an attempt to put Verstappen into trouble. Verstappen is currently on eleven penalty points for his super license, and an extra penalty for this incident could lead to an automatic suspension for a race, a heavy blow to the Red Bull driver.

However, Lambiase was quickly with a warning to Verstappen. After looking back the incident, he said about the radio: “That incident with Russell is now shown on the images, Max, it is pretty clear. Don’t let this game drag you, ok? Thanks.” This comment suggests that Red Bull suspects that Russell consciously tried to provoke Verstappen into an error, which in their eyes comes down to unsporting behavior.

Red Bull’s protest focuses on two specific points: the alleged erratiche driving behavior of Russell behind the Safetycar and the possibility that he deliberately tried to get Verstappen in a violation. The stewards will now analyze the telemetry and video images to determine whether Russell has violated the rules. A possible punishment for Russell, such as a time penalty, could cost him his victory, since the race behind the Safetycar ended and the time differences were minimal. In that case, Verstappen might be declared the winner.

For Russell, the loss of this victory would be a bitter pill. The British driver delivered an almost flawless performance in Canada, giving Mercedes their first victory of the season. After the race he was euphoric and praised his team for their hard work. “It feels great to be on the highest step again,” he said after getting out of his car. Yet there is now a shadow over this triumph, while the stewards prepare their decision.

The rivalry between Red Bull and Mercedes, who often caused fireworks in the past, seems to flares up again. Earlier this season, Red Bull already submitted a protest against Russell after the Grand Prix of Miami, which was then rejected. This new incident adds an extra low voltage to an already intensely Formula 1 season. While the F1 caravan is preparing for the next race in Austria, the motorsport world holds its breath for the statement of the stewards in Montreal.