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FIA Dismisses Red Bull Protest Against George Russell as Miami GP Results Remain Unchanged
The FIA has officially dismissed a protest filed by Red Bull Racing against Mercedes driver George Russell following the 2025 Miami Grand Prix. Red Bull’s complaint focused on an alleged yellow flag violation, claiming that Russell failed to properly slow down in a caution zone—an infraction that, if upheld, could have elevated Max Verstappen to third place.
Red Bull’s Objection
The dispute centered around a particular segment of the race during which yellow flags were temporarily deployed due to a hazard on the track. According to Red Bull, Russell—who was running just ahead of Verstappen—did not adequately reduce his speed as required by Formula 1’s Sporting Regulations. They referenced Article 26.1(a), which mandates that drivers must “discernibly reduce speed” when yellow flags are displayed.
Red Bull asserted that although Russell did lift off the throttle, telemetry and onboard footage suggested his overall pace through the yellow flag zone was not significantly lower. The team believed that a minor throttle lift did not fulfill the regulation’s intent, and they provided comparative data showing that Verstappen had visibly slowed down more than Russell when passing through the caution area.
Had the FIA agreed with Red Bull’s interpretation and handed Russell a standard five-second time penalty, Verstappen—who finished less than five seconds behind the Mercedes—would have moved up to third place, securing a podium finish.
Mercedes’ Response
Mercedes responded by defending Russell’s actions, stating that he complied with the standard interpretation of the yellow flag procedure. The team emphasized that drivers are generally expected to lift off the throttle significantly to demonstrate caution, and that there is no hard-set requirement for a specific decrease in speed beyond what is considered a “discernible reduction.”
They argued that Russell’s behavior was consistent with common practice across the F1 grid and pointed out that the FIA has never defined an exact speed drop as necessary for compliance under yellow flag conditions. According to Mercedes, Russell’s throttle response was more than sufficient to show that he was proceeding with caution.
FIA’s Verdict
After thoroughly reviewing the telemetry data, video footage, and hearing arguments from both teams, the stewards ruled in favor of Mercedes. In its official statement, the FIA acknowledged Red Bull’s protest but ultimately concluded that Russell’s actions met the current expectations for yellow flag compliance. The governing body noted that the interpretation followed by Mercedes is in line with how similar incidents have been evaluated in past races.
As a result, George Russell’s third-place finish stands, while Max Verstappen remains in fourth place. The outcome is a significant boost for Mercedes, who have had limited podium appearances this season, whereas Red Bull is left frustrated, feeling Verstappen missed out due to inconsistent application of rules.
Looking Ahead
This ruling reignites the ongoing discussion around the clarity of yellow flag regulations in Formula 1. The FIA’s decision may prompt teams to push for more concrete guidelines to avoid similar controversies in the future. For now, however, the results from the Miami Grand Prix are finalized, with Russell officially securing the final podium spot.
