The Canadian Grand Prix saw a thrilling battle between George Russell and Max Verstappen, but after the race it was a controversial incident under the safety car that attracted the most attention. Red Bull protested Russell’s victory, labelling his driving as “illegal” and unsportsmanlike. After a lengthy deliberation, the FIA ​​stewards rejected the protest, but George Russell still received a penalty for his actions. This is good news for Max Verstappen, who retains his second place, while Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff shared his views on the situation.

The race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was dominated by Russell, who started from pole position and kept the lead. Verstappen followed in second place, but could not seriously threaten the Mercedes driver. The drama started when a collision between the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri brought out a safety car in the closing stages. During this period, Russell suddenly braked hard on the straight, causing Verstappen to briefly pass him and even drive in front of him. Verstappen immediately complained on the radio: “George suddenly braked very aggressively.” His race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, replied that they would investigate the incident for possible irregular driving.

Russell himself was not quiet either and reported on the radio that Verstappen had overtaken him under the safety car, which could be a violation of the rules. This seemed to be a deliberate attempt to get Verstappen into trouble, especially since the Dutchman already has eleven penalty points and an extra point would mean a race ban. Lambiase warned Verstappen: “That incident with Russell is now on the footage, Max, it’s pretty clear. Don’t get caught up in this game, okay?”

After hours of deliberation, the stewards rejected Red Bull’s protest, concluding that Russell’s driving was not illegal. However, Russell was given an official warning for his abrupt braking manoeuvre, which was deemed potentially dangerous. In addition, Russell, along with Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri, were warned for overtaking after the finish under safety car conditions, but this did not result in any further penalty. This means that Russell retains his victory, but the warning serves as a reminder that his actions were on the edge. For Verstappen, this is good news: his second place remains intact, and he receives no additional penalty points, thus avoiding a suspension.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff responded to the incident with a measured tone, unusual given his often outspoken views. “I only heard after the race that Max was asked to let George pass, I didn’t know that,” Wolff told media, including RacingNews365. “During the race we thought Max had a problem with his car, that’s why he was so slow into Turn 4.” Wolff avoided harsh criticism of Verstappen, but suggested that if the incident was a deliberate act it would not be acceptable. “If it was out of anger, which I can’t imagine because it was too obvious, then that’s not good. But I don’t know what Max was planning. Did he want to let George pass and then immediately overtake again?”

Wolff’s response reflects his broader views on top athletes like Verstappen. He noted that “great champions sometimes think the world is against them, which drives them to perform at the highest level.” He added: “Sometimes they don’t see that they themselves have made a mistake. We haven’t seen moments like this with Max for years, so I don’t know where this comes from.” These comments suggest that Wolff understands Verstappen’s temperament, but he stressed that Mercedes remain focused on their own performance.

The FIA’s ruling and warning to Russell concludes a tumultuous Canadian Grand Prix. For Verstappen, it offers some relief as he continues his championship battle. However, the Russell-Verstappen rivalry remains a source of tension, and with races in Europe coming up, the Formula 1 world will be watching closely to see how this dynamic plays out.