Breaking:FIA Rejects Red Bull Protest Against George Russell as Miami Grand Prix Result Stands…read more
Red Bull’s protest over George Russell’s alleged failure to slow under yellow flags is dismissed by the FIA, confirming the Mercedes driver’s third-place finish at the Miami Grand Prix.
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has officially confirmed the final result of the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, following a protest lodged by Red Bull Racing against Mercedes driver George Russell. The challenge centered on an alleged failure by Russell to adequately slow down under yellow flag conditions during the race.
Red Bull’s protest claimed that while Russell, driving car number 63, did lift off the throttle when approaching the yellow flag zone, he did not sufficiently reduce his speed, potentially breaching Article 26.1 a) of the FIA Sporting Regulations. This article requires drivers to “discernibly reduce speed” when yellow flags are displayed.
According to Red Bull’s interpretation, a proper response to a yellow flag means that a driver must pass through the affected zone at a clearly slower absolute speed than before entering it. The team argued that Max Verstappen, who was trailing Russell at the time, had appropriately reduced his speed and set the correct precedent. Verstappen had finished the race in fourth place, within five seconds of Russell. If the protest were upheld and Russell was penalized, Verstappen could have moved up to third and secured a podium finish.
Mercedes, in response, defended Russell’s actions, stating that both the driver and the team had adhered to standard protocol. They argued that significantly lifting off the throttle has long been accepted by both teams and the FIA as an adequate response to yellow flag situations. Mercedes pointed out that Russell did indeed lift off the throttle significantly upon noticing the yellow flag and the stranded car beside the track. Furthermore, they noted that Russell’s throttle reduction was even more substantial than that of other drivers in the same zone.
The FIA stewards reviewed onboard footage and telemetry data, which showed that Russell reduced throttle input by approximately 25 percent. This throttle lift led to a 30 percent decrease in torque. However, while the telemetry showed a reduction in engine output, the car’s absolute speed slightly increased as it passed through the yellow flag zone. Despite this, the stewards noted that the car’s relative speed — compared to the typical racing speed in that segment of the track — was clearly slower.
In their detailed explanation, the stewards clarified the regulatory language. Article 26.1 a), they said, does not explicitly require a drop in absolute speed. Instead, they interpreted “discernibly reduced speed” to mean a reduction relative to the usual racing pace at that section of the circuit. This distinction is important because a car might appear slower in absolute terms simply because it’s approaching a braking zone, but that doesn’t necessarily indicate compliance with the yellow flag rules.
The stewards concluded that Russell’s actions showed he had acknowledged the yellow flag appropriately and that his speed relative to standard racing conditions in that part of the track was sufficiently reduced. They emphasized that judging compliance by relative speed better reflects the driver’s awareness and response to potential danger.
As a result, the stewards found Red Bull’s protest to be unsubstantiated and formally rejected it. George Russell retains his third-place finish, and the Miami Grand Prix race results remain unchanged.
This outcome solidifies another strong performance for Mercedes and Russell, while Red Bull and Max Verstappen will have to wait for another opportunity to climb the podium. The decision also underscores the FIA’s reliance on nuanced interpretations of racing data and regulations, particularly in dynamic and situational contexts like yellow flag zones.
