Less than halfway through the 2025 Formula 1 season, more post-race protests have been issued than in either of the two previous seasons.
What’s more, all of them have been directed at the same driver by the same team.Red Bull has brought three protests against George Russell in little more than a month: One in Miami followed by two in Canada last weekend. None produced the desired outcome for the team.
The detail of Red Bull’s second protest in Canada was widely overlooked. It was first indicated in the FIA’s original document last weekend summoning Russell and Mercedes referred to “protests lodged by Oracle Red Bull Racing against the driver of car 63″ (emphasis added).
However their other protest didn’t even get that far. An FIA spokesperson confirmed to RaceFans that Red Bull withdrew an accusation Russell had also broken the rules by failing to remain within 10 car lengths of the Safety Car.
Clearly, Russell had committed no such infringement. Although he had fallen further behind the Safety Car on several occasions, he had done this in order to comply with the lower delta time enforced at the pit lane exit where the track was under yellow flags.
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Protests are one of several ways teams can raise issues with the stewards. In essence, a protest is how a team claims the rules have not been enforced, as opposed to a right of review which is an opportunity to raise overlooked evidence, or an appeal which is a challenge to a decision which has been made.
They are not especially common in F1. Even during the bitter 2021 title fight, no protests were lodged until the final round. The three protests raised over the first 10 rounds of this season are typical of what might normally be seen over an entire championship. The 2020 season saw six, but all bar one of those were part of the same ongoing row:
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Other teams have proven themselves quite happy to go down the legal route when they spy a potential benefit.
But Red Bull have been unusually trigger-happy in this respect lately, and it’s hard not to see a connection to the mutual antagonism between Verstappen and Russell. Each of Red Bull’s protests was triggered by their driver’s complaints on his radio:
| Miami Grand Prix – Lap: 32/57 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Check if Russell lifted, there was a yellow. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 33/57 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | VSC deployed Max, VSC deployed. I would say Russell went down to about 90% throttle, Max. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Okay, that’s weird lift. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Yep. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Grand Prix – Lap: 68/70 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | After turn 10 The Safety Car is driving really slow, what is he doing? |
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| Verstappen | Russell slows and Verstappen briefly passes him before dropping behind again George suddenly just aggressively braked. |
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| Lambiase | Understood, thank you. We will check for any erratic driving. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 69/70 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | We can see that on our data stream as well, Max. Thank you for the info. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Russell drops back from the Safety Car, then accelerates That’s more than 10 car lengths also, there. |
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| Lambiase | Okay, we will check that as well, thank you. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Yeah, that incident with Russell now being shown on the feeds Max. So, pretty blatant. Just don’t fall for the gamesmanship, okay? Thank you. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 70/70 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Russell drops back from the Safety Car, then accelerates Again, more than 10 car lengths, what is he doing? |
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| Lambiase | Thank you. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Way more than 10, look at this! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Yes, thank you Max. We’ll have a look. Cheers mate. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Verstappen also knows a well-aimed complaint could bring a big pay-off. He was quick to spot Lando Norris failing to slow under yellow flags in Losail last year and whether or not his radio comments prompted the stewards’ action on that occasion, the consequent 10-second stop-go penalty ruined his rival’s race.
Will Red Bull keep on pursuing Russell at every opportunity? That will depend partly on whether he gives them the chance.
Last weekend may lead them to rethink their zeal for litigation, or strengthen their resolve to catch out their rivals – however many €2,000 protest deposits they have to pay.
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2025 Canadian Grand Prix
- Don’t boo Piastri, Norris tells British Grand Prix fans
- Fine teams for “long shot” protests like Red Bull’s in Canada, says Wolff
- Verstappen refuses to say whether he supported Red Bull’s latest Russell protests
- No change to McLaren’s ‘papaya rules’ after Canadian GP collision – Piastri
- The driver and car explanations for how Piastri turned the tables on Norris
Alex
18th June 2025, 13:29
Russell break-tested Max to force a penalty on his rival. This was unsportsmanlike. It kind of diminished his win last Sunday.
An Sionnach
18th June 2025, 16:19
I would hope that, if for argument’s sake(!) George was indeed checking those mirrors to see where Max was before he hit the brakes, having the protests lodged against him will correct his behaviour. If he is indeed up to tricks it will catch up with him should he continue with them.
David BR (@david-br)
19th June 2025, 1:02
Whereas Verstappen deliberately crashing into Russell was sportsmanlike?!
I don’t see how his fans have anything to complain about concerning Russell for the rest of the season.
baasbas
19th June 2025, 7:56
@david-br
You know there is the option to actually dislike both actions? It’s not a binary problem
David BR (@david-br)
19th June 2025, 11:42
Neither is it tat for tat. Verstappen should have been disqualified for deliberately crashing into another car. While Verstappen seems to have agreed with the stewards that Russell was responding to the safety car and time delta instructions (which, to be honest, seem absurdly complicated and messed up).
This is really just about Red Bull being unlovable Red Bull.
DAH
19th June 2025, 3:14
For sure. He had already said before the race that he would exploit any situation to force a penalty for Max. Imagine if Max had said that. The whole of the UK would be calling for a life ban for Max
Juan Fanger (@juanfanger)
19th June 2025, 11:42
Imagine if George _had_ said that!
Carsten Nielsen (@carstenb)
19th June 2025, 12:01
Why is this discussed again? It has already been explained in detail what happened: Russell was adhering to the delta time on his display, which – even during SC – is valid. He was braking when his delta got negative (meaning going to fast – SC was moving faster than the allowed delta).
Nothing to do with favoring British, Dutch or any other nationality. We can agues that it is stupid to have the delta-rule active while behind SC – I would certainly support that-
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
18th June 2025, 13:35
The more Red Bull struggle – the more they will whine and cry “Not Fair”
However, all the teams are the same.
If any team thinks that they can gain even a fraction of a point, they will bleat like three-year-olds to try to get their way.
I’m pretty sure that George is game playing Max when he thinks he can get away with it ….. just as Max does whenever he gets the chance.
BMW P85 V10
18th June 2025, 19:47
It’s simple. Max is getting fined, punished, handed penalty points for things that others (mainly British drivers) get away with. Commenting on such inconsistent behavior during a press conference is not done either. I Max is just emphasizing al the mishaps and more & more people will find out that Stewards rule the sport with an inconsistency that can’t just be ruled out within a normal error margin.
Norris got away without penalty points for causing a collision. That can’t be right.
DAH
19th June 2025, 3:17
Agree 100% BMW. Its also fueled by those Sky commentators who are so UK blinkered. Its actually cringeworthy watching them talk among themselves. Its just “Lewis” “Lando” all day long!
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
20th June 2025, 12:08
Stop crying and take your media watching somewhere else. Theres no bias but it is true the British rule F1, maybe that is your problem
anon
19th June 2025, 5:58
BMW P85 V10, so, according to your theory, we are supposed to believe that the Spanish, French, Dutch, Mexican, German, Brazilian and French stewards, to name just some of the nationalities of the stewards that have been in charge of F1 races, are rabidly anti-Dutch and pro-British?
After all, you complain about Norris colliding with Piastri and ascribe that to pro-British bias. Tell me – why would stewards who are Dutch, German and Brazilian, which is the national make up of the stewarding panel in Canada, supposedly be so biased towards British drivers?
Equally, what about all of the other cases where a driver has collided with their team mate, and no penalty was awarded? Did you rage about the stewards being pro-German when they ignored the collision between Vettel and Leclerc during the 2019 Brazilian GP and chose to impose no penalty? Were they pro-Dutch during the collision between Verstappen and Ricciardo in Baku in 2018, where no penalties were awarded there? Were they pro-French when they chose to not penalise Gasly for colliding with Ocon in 2023 at the Australian GP?
It is so easy to find examples of drivers of other nationalities who were involved in collisions with their team mates who weren’t penalised for it either to be obvious that your argument falls apart instantly.
MacLeod (@macleod)
19th June 2025, 8:15
Max isn’t going to pay fines as for the same offences the other don’t get fined.
Pflite
18th June 2025, 14:16
I gues if it was just a strategy to ask a penalty for Russell to avoid to receive a protest from Mercedes because of the overtake under safety car…attack first to avoid to be attacked…
baasbas
19th June 2025, 7:59
@Pflite
This. I feel this might be closest to the truth.
Bocky
18th June 2025, 14:25
All these whinings and protests (during practice, race, and after race) are kindergarten behavior.
Mayrton
19th June 2025, 7:04
I agree, but in all fairness they are a byproduct of the bad stewarding. The real problem lies in their incredible inconsistency which again leads to suspicion of favouritism. Those are strong ingredients for teams to start complaining.
Fab
21st June 2025, 17:10
I have a question, then.
Was Goerges complain to the the stewards in Quatar a kindergarten behavior, then ?
tielemst
18th June 2025, 14:52
I know you’re pushing a bitter rivalry here, but I still respectfully disagree and this article does nothing to change that. Max has been calling out opponents regardless of who they are or what team they drive for. He’s been calling out Lando for not slowing down for yellows, not lining up in his starting box and almost the whole field for an incorrect starting procedure. Where there is a chance to gain an advantage he will try to take it. Nothing less, but also nothing more.
Jonathan Parkin
18th June 2025, 21:03
But why does he feel the need to do this. It’s the same deal when he pushes an opponent off the track.
He’s in the opinion of most people the best driver on the grid, so why doesn’t he just let his driving do the talking.
Michael Schumacher was the same, he pushed the limits too. But his ‘crash’ at Rascasse in 2006 ironically helped him lose the title that year rather than helped him win it
This is why he has haters. It isn’t because he wins all the time, it’s because he just can’t stop this ‘I have to win’ attitude
tielemst
19th June 2025, 8:28
I think you answered your own question. It’s just the way he’s wired. There are so many things that can go wrong in a race that in order to win you maximize everything and anything. Won’t get you extra fans, but will get you extra titles. The fact he hasn’t got a dominant car will only enhance this attitude.
Jonathan Parkin
19th June 2025, 11:20
It could POTENTIALLY get you extra titles. One of my biggest what ifs is what would have happened if Michael had not parked at Rascasse in 2006. He could have won that race or finished second. Its not hard to imagine the championship momentum swing his way. Instead because he started from the pit lane he finished fifth
tielemst
19th June 2025, 13:25
I should have phrased it a bit differently and say “In his mind it will get you extra titles”. Of course it can backfire, however I’m pretty sure that this attitude is also why he is in a sim every waking hour of the day and just really lives only for racing, not the glamour that surrounds it. And that combined is a winning formula, but is also putting off a lot of people.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
18th June 2025, 22:36
Strange, I don’t see red bull in silverstone 2021 in the list, I remember them appealing.
DAH
19th June 2025, 3:20
Esploratatre. Remind me – what that the race where Hamilton tried to kill Max and the Hamilton, the Sky reporters and the cult celebrated like clowns?
MacLeod (@macleod)
19th June 2025, 8:16
Silverstone 2021 …..
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
20th June 2025, 12:10
by turnng into a corner he had the inside line on? Go and have a look at how motor racing works and start rephrasing your opinion, taking the crybaby ‘kill’ out of it for starters
Kurt Laguna
18th June 2025, 23:34
The FIA should handle protests and appeals the way the NHL handles a challenge of an on ice call or goal. A challenge is allowed but you need to be darn sure your right because if you lose the challenge you receive a penalty of 2 minutes or 1 less player for 2 minutes. We would have a lot less frivolous FIA protests if a team received a penalty (ie: a time or grid penalty for the next race), if they are wrong and lose the protest. The result would be that if a team is just “kicking tires” to see if they can affect the result they would need to believe strongly as they will get penalized if they lose. Now, other than a deposit being lost, there is no downside to giving it a go…..nothing ventured, nothing gained and as such it is a no down side game.
Mayrton
19th June 2025, 7:08
Sorry, but that sounds like a circus designed to cover up poor decision making. Are there actual clowns involved as well? I bet Liberty would love this, since they are in the circus business.
tielemst
19th June 2025, 8:30
I’m sure Red Bull wouldn’t mind that. Their no.2 car is nowhere anyway
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage- Special Unhinged Edition (@davedai)
19th June 2025, 10:33
What the puck ?