FIA announce George Russell penalty decision after Max Verstappen lobbying

Red Bull Racing’s late protest following the 2025 Miami Grand Prix has officially been rejected by the FIA, meaning Mercedes driver George Russell retains his P3 finish. The team had accused Russell of breaching yellow flag regulations, but the stewards found no fault in his actions.



Allegation Over Yellow Flag Procedure



Red Bull’s complaint centered around George Russell allegedly failing to sufficiently reduce speed during a yellow flag period. While the British driver did lift off the throttle when the caution flag was displayed, Red Bull claimed this did not amount to a real speed reduction and therefore breached Appendix H, Article 2.5.5 b) of the International Sporting Code.



The FIA confirmed that the protest was dismissed after a review of onboard data and track footage, stating the challenge was “not founded.”







Mercedes Refer to Standard Yellow Flag Practices



In their defense, Mercedes pointed out that the norm accepted by all teams and supported by the FIA is that lifting off the throttle is typically regarded as a compliant response in a yellow flag zone.



“Significantly lifting the throttle in a yellow flag zone is considered as an appropriate reaction to yellow flags,” Mercedes argued.



After a thorough review of the incident, the stewards ruled that Russell had indeed reduced his speed sufficiently to comply with Article 26.1 a) of the Sporting Regulations. This was the article Red Bull used in their formal complaint.



Russell’s Podium Finish Safe from Alteration



The stewards concluded that Russell had been traveling slower than the typical racing speed while passing through the yellow flag sector, determining he had “discernibly reduced speed.” As a result, the protest was rejected, and Red Bull was required to forfeit their protest fee due to the timing of their submission.



Had the ruling gone in Red Bull’s favor, Russell could have been hit with a 10-second time penalty, which is the standard punishment for failing to slow down under yellow flags. That would have dropped him to P4 and elevated Max Verstappen to the podium in third.



Other Drivers Also Under Scrutiny



Russell wasn’t the only driver under investigation after the Miami Grand Prix. Both Carlos Sainz and Pierre Gasly were also reviewed for potential yellow flag infringements. However, after analyzing footage from their respective onboard cameras and external angles, the stewards concluded that neither had clear visibility of the yellow flag.



Consequently, both Sainz and Gasly escaped penalties. The stewards issued them warnings instead, preserving Sainz’s P9 and Gasly’s P13 finishes.



Final Verdict: No Change in Results



With all the investigations now closed and no penalties applied, the final race results stand unchanged. Russell keeps his podium, Sainz retains his points finish, and Red Bull’s attempt to overturn the result has officially failed.
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