Toto Wolff slams Red Bull's protest of George Russell's Canadian GP victory as ‘embarrassing’
Toto Wolff Calls Red Bull’s Protest Against George Russell’s Canadian GP Victory “Petty”
Amid fierce competition on and off the track, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff had strong words for Red Bull Racing following their formal protest of George Russell’s victory at the Canadian Grand Prix. Wolff described Red Bull’s actions as "petty" and "embarrassing" after the stewards ultimately upheld Russell’s win, rejecting claims of “unsportsmanlike intent.”
The controversy arose from Red Bull’s allegation that Russell had braked excessively behind the safety car during the closing stages of the race in Montreal. While Russell did slow behind the safety car, the stewards determined his actions were neither erratic nor unsportsmanlike. Moreover, it was Red Bull’s own driver, Max Verstappen, who overtook Russell under the safety car — an obvious breach of regulations.
Stewards Uphold Russell's Victory
Over five tense hours after the race concluded, the stewards released their decision, officially ruling that Red Bull’s protest held no merit. Russell’s performance was confirmed as legal, allowing him to keep Mercedes’ first victory of the season. Wolff, speaking to Sky Sports at a separate event in New York, criticized Red Bull for holding up the process by filing complaints he considered frivolous.
"First of all, it took team Red Bull Racing two hours before they launched the protest, so that was in their doing. You know, honestly, it's so petty and so small," said Wolff. "You race, you win, and you lose on track. That was a fair victory for us, like so many they had in the past. And it's just embarrassing."
This was not the first time Red Bull raised concerns over Russell’s driving. Wolff highlighted how Red Bull previously protested Mercedes in Miami for allegedly failing to slow appropriately under yellow flags — another appeal that was dismissed.
"They come up with some weird clauses," Wolff added. "I guess the FIA needs to look at that because it's so farfetched it was rejected."
Christian Horner Defends Red Bull’s Protest
Red Bull’s team principal Christian Horner, speaking to reporters in Canada and later in New York, stood by his team’s decision to challenge Russell’s driving tactics. According to Horner, Red Bull believed Russell may have exceeded the 10-car-length rule behind the safety car — a point later disproven when it emerged that Russell was following the dashboard time delta standard.
"No, absolutely not [no regrets]," Horner said of the protest. "I mean, it's a team's right to do so. You know, we saw something we didn't think was quite right. You have the ability to put it in front of the stewards, and so that's what we chose to do. Absolutely no regrets in that."
The failed protest also cost Red Bull a €2,000 deposit, which cannot be recovered after a ruling against the challenging team.
Verstappen’s Perspective on the Incident
Interestingly, Max Verstappen himself weighed in on the situation post-race. Speaking to media in Montreal, Verstappen noted that both he and Russell had been frustrated by the slow pace of the safety car on the back straight. According to Verstappen, the slow pace forced both drivers to brake harder than usual, suggesting Russell was not acting inappropriately.
"Because I'm 100% sure it's not Max," Wolff said in defense of Verstappen. "He's a racer. He would never go for a protest on such a trivial thing."
Mercedes vs. Red Bull: A Growing Rivalry
While the protest did little to change the final results or keep Red Bull from forfeiting its deposit, the incident highlights the growing tension between the two F1 giants, Mercedes and Red Bull. Wolff’s sharp criticism of Red Bull’s appeals is just the latest chapter in a rivalry defined by fierce competition both on and off the track. For now, however, George Russell’s victory in Montreal remains firmly intact, marking another exciting chapter in Mercedes’ season of highs and lows.
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