The Canadian Grand Prix featured a fierce battle between George Russell and Max Verstappen, but after the race, it was a controversial incident under the safety car that captured the spotlight. Red Bull lodged a protest against Russell’s victory, calling his driving behavior “illegal” and unsportsmanlike. After much deliberation, the FIA ​​stewards rejected the protest, but George Russell was still penalized for his actions. This is good news for Max Verstappen, who retains his second place, while Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff shared his thoughts on the situation.

The race at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve was dominated by Russell, who started from pole position and maintained the lead. Verstappen followed in second place but was unable to seriously threaten the Mercedes driver. The drama then began with a collision between the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, which required the intervention of the safety car in the final phase. During this time, Russell suddenly braked violently on the right side, allowing Verstappen to catch up and even overtake him. Verstappen immediately complained over the on-board radio: “George sometimes braked very harshly.” His race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, responded that an investigation would be opened for possible irregular driving behavior.

Russell himself wasn’t silent and reported on the radio that Verstappen had caught the Safety Car, which could constitute a rule violation. This appeared to be a deliberate attempt to put Verstappen in trouble, especially since the Dutchman already has eleven penalty points and one more point would result in a suspension. Lambiase warned Verstappen: “That incident with Russell is now visible on the footage, Max, it’s quite clear. Don’t get caught up in that, okay?”

After hours of consultation, the stewards rejected Red Bull’s protest, concluding that Russell’s driving behavior was not illegal. However, Russell received an official warning for his abrupt maneuver, which was deemed potentially dangerous. Additionally, Russell, along with Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri, were warned not to overtake after the Safety Car finish, but this resulted in no additional penalties. Russell therefore retains his victory, but this warning serves as a reminder that his behavior was on the limit. This is good news for Verstappen: his second place remains intact and he receives no additional penalty points, allowing him to avoid a suspension.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff responded to the incident with restraint, which is surprising given his often strong opinions. “I only found out after the race that Max had been asked to let George by, I didn’t know,” Wolff told media outlets, including Racingnews365. “During the race, we thought Max had a problem with his car, so he was very slow in Turn 4.” Wolff spoke out strongly against Verstappen, but suggested that if the incident was a deliberate act, it would not be acceptable. “If it was anger, which I can’t imagine because it was too obvious, then it’s not good. But I don’t know what Max was planning. Did he want George to pass and catch up immediately?”

Wolff’s reaction reflects his broader view of elite athletes like Verstappen. He noted that “great champions sometimes think the world is against them, which pushes 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 these kinds of moments from Max for years, so I don’t understand where it comes from.” These comments suggest Wolff Verstappen’s temperament is sympathetic, but he emphasized that Mercedes remains focused on its own performance.

The FIA’s decision and the warning given to Russell conclude a tumultuous Canadian Grand Prix. For Verstappen, it offers some relief as he continues his championship battle. The rivalry between Russell and Verstappen remains a source of tension, however, and with the upcoming European races, the Formula 1 world will be closely monitoring how this dynamic evolves.