George Russell retains Miami GP podium as Red Bull protest falls flat
George Russell Retains Miami Podium Following Dismissal of Red Bull Protest
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — George Russell walked away from the Miami Grand Prix with his podium finish intact after a Red Bull protest over a yellow flag incident was dismissed by race stewards.
Yellow Flag Incident Sparks Controversy
The protest from Red Bull centered on a moment during Lap 33 of the high-stakes race, when Gabriele Bortoleto’s Sauber came to a halt on the track due to engine failure, triggering cautionary yellow flags. Moments later, a radio message from Max Verstappen was broadcast, stating: "Check if George lifted, there was a yellow."
Under Formula 1 regulations, drivers must reduce their speed in yellow flag zones to ensure safety. Red Bull argued that Russell, though he appeared to lift off the throttle, did not sufficiently reduce his speed to meet the rule’s requirements.
Red Bull’s Protest and Stewards’ Ruling
Verstappen, who had been closely trailing Russell, was urged by his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, to stay within five seconds of the Mercedes driver in the final stages of the race. Ultimately, the Dutchman finished behind Russell, sparking Red Bull's post-race protest.
However, the stewards ruled against Red Bull’s claims, stating that telemetry data and on-board footage definitively showed that Russell complied with the rules. Their decision detailed: "It was evident from the onboard footage as well as from telemetry that Car 63 lifted the throttle when passing the yellow flag zone. The throttle was lifted by approx. 25 percent, and this resulted in a reduction of torque of approx. 30 percent."
Podium Positions Secured
The ruling ensured the finishing order remained unchanged, with Russell securing his spot ahead of Verstappen and maintaining Mercedes' strong showing in Miami.
For Russell, the decision was a validation of his performance on the day, while for Red Bull, the failed protest marks a missed opportunity to leverage an advantage over their closest rivals in the tightly contested championship battle.
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