George Russell takes INTENTIONAL FIA penalty at Monaco GP fol

George Russell takes INTENTIONAL FIA penalty at Monaco GP following an….read more

George Russell made headlines at the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix after deliberately accepting a penalty from the FIA following a controversial incident involving Alex Albon. The Mercedes driver attempted to overtake the Williams driver by cutting the harbourside chicane — a maneuver that quickly drew scrutiny from race officials and prompted immediate instructions from his team.

Shortly after the move, Russell received a message over team radio advising him to relinquish the position back to Albon. However, Russell was defiant in his response, refusing to give the place back and telling his engineers, “I’ll take the penalty — he’s driving erratically.” His refusal to comply with the directive led to swift action from the FIA stewards, who issued him a drive-through penalty within moments of the incident.

The penalty dealt a heavy blow to Russell’s race. The Brit had not yet completed either of his two mandatory pit stops, which are required under Formula 1 regulations. Failing to fulfill that requirement could lead to disqualification, and with the added burden of a drive-through, Russell’s chances of a strong finish were seriously compromised.

Upon receiving confirmation of the penalty, Russell gave a terse and telling reply: “I prefer not to speak.” The brief comment highlighted his mounting frustration during what proved to be a challenging race weekend for both him and the Mercedes team.

Mercedes had opted for a strategy based on delaying pit stops in hopes of gaining positions through track position. However, the plan failed to pay off, as Russell remained stuck behind Albon and was unable to make meaningful progress up the grid. The lack of pace from the Mercedes car only compounded his problems, leaving him with little hope of breaking into the top 10 and securing points.

The Monaco Grand Prix marked a rare off-weekend for Russell in what has otherwise been a solid 2025 season. Known for capitalizing on chaotic races to grab podiums or critical points, the Brit was left frustrated by both the car’s performance and the tactical outcome in Monte Carlo.

While it remains unclear if further action will be taken over Russell’s refusal to follow the team order initially, the decision to accept the penalty instead of giving the place back has sparked debate. Some argue it was a bold move rooted in his belief about Albon’s erratic driving, while others question the wisdom of voluntarily inviting a punishment at a circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult.

Ultimately, Monaco proved a tough test for Russell, who will now look to regroup and refocus ahead of the n

ext Grand Prix.