BREAKING: F1 star's podium finish under threat as FIA announce la

F1 star’s podium finish under threat as FIA announce late investigation

By Hugo Harvey

George Russell’s second-place finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix is now under review following a post-race investigation by the FIA. The Mercedes driver faces potential sanctions over an alleged misuse of the Drag Reduction System (DRS), casting doubt over his hard-earned podium.

The issue stems from suspicions that Russell deployed the DRS outside of the designated zones during the race. According to FIA regulations, drivers are only permitted to activate DRS when they are within one second of the car ahead and within a clearly marked DRS zone. The stewards have now summoned both Russell and a representative of the Mercedes team to appear before them at 20:45 local time to discuss the incident.

The FIA issued a formal statement detailing the reason behind the investigation: “The driver and team representative are required to report to the Stewards at 20:45, in relation to the incident below: Alleged breach of Article 22.1 h) of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations – Alleged usage of the DRS system outside the pre-defined activation zones.”

The alleged infraction, if confirmed, could have serious consequences for Russell’s final position. As it stands, he finished second behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, putting in a strong performance despite apparent technical glitches throughout the race. However, any time penalty handed out by the stewards — particularly a five or ten-second penalty — could see him demoted to fourth place, behind Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc. In an extreme, though unlikely, scenario, a heavier penalty might elevate teammate Lewis Hamilton to fourth.

After the race, Russell was quick to address the situation. Speaking to media, he admitted to a momentary DRS activation issue, but insisted there was no performance gain — and perhaps even a loss.

“We were having all sorts of failures and basically had to do an overdrive on the DRS,” Russell explained. “On one lap, I accidentally clicked the radio button and the DRS opened. I realised right away and closed it again immediately. I backed off too — there was nothing gained from it. If anything, I lost time. It was only open for a split second.”

Russell’s account suggests that the DRS opening was a result of a system glitch rather than a deliberate attempt to gain an unfair advantage. The Mercedes team, already grappling with technical issues across the weekend, will likely present data and telemetry to support the driver’s claim that the breach was accidental and inconsequential.

While this incident has not drawn the same level of controversy as some previous F1 infractions, the FIA maintains a firm stance on ensuring sporting regulations are adhered to strictly, especially concerning systems like DRS that can significantly influence a car’s speed and overtaking ability.

As fans await the stewards’ decision, all eyes remain on how the FIA will interpret Russell’s momentary DRS activation. A lenient ruling could see his second-place finish stand, while a stricter approach may shuffle the podium and the early-season championship standings.

The final outcome is expected later tonight after the hearing concludes. Until then, George Russell’s Bahrain podium remains under a cloud of uncertainty.