Russell’s F1 Canadian GP win in doubt after Red Bull protest

The Red Bull Formula 1 team has lodged a protest to the FIA race stewards against George Russell after the conclusion of the Canadian Grand Prix.

Mercedes driver Russell and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished first and second in Montreal, with Russell comfortably converting his pole into a first victory of the 2025 season.

The race finished under a safety car after a late collision between McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, with Norris’ damaged car shredding debris on the main straight.

As the drivers cruised behind the safety car, there was some animosity from Verstappen, who felt Russell had been driving erratically by slowing down dramatically, forcing the world champion to overshoot him approaching the final chicane.

The incident wasn’t further discussed in the post-race interviews Russell and Verstappen were involved in, but Red Bull eventually decided to launch a protest against the Mercedes driver, which appears to be connected to the safety car antics.

Both teams and drivers visited the stewards at 17:50 local Montreal time.