FIA confirm late Russell penalty with additional punishment after…read more

The FIA has issued a late penalty to Mercedes driver George Russell following an incident at the Qatar Grand Prix, adding a layer of controversy to the penultimate race of the 2024 Formula 1 season. Russell was handed a five-second penalty for failing to comply with race regulations during a Safety Car period, which did not affect his final position but drew significant attention.

The weekend at Lusail International Circuit was a mixed bag for Russell. Initially disappointed after narrowly missing pole position in Saturday’s qualifying session, he was later promoted to the front row. This came after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was handed a grid penalty for what the FIA termed as “driving unnecessarily slowly,” disadvantaging Russell in a prior session. Tensions between the two drivers escalated throughout the weekend, reportedly spilling into heated exchanges off the track.

On race day, Russell crossed the finish line in fourth place, a result he retained despite the five-second penalty applied after the event. However, the FIA announced an additional punishment following further investigation into his conduct during the Safety Car phase.

The governing body determined that Russell had breached regulations by failing to maintain a 10-car length distance behind the vehicle ahead. Stewards reviewed various pieces of evidence, including video footage, telemetry data, and in-car recordings. Their findings showed that Russell’s car, designated as Car 63, fell more than 125 meters—exceeding the allowable 20-car length distance—behind during the Safety Car period.

In an official statement, the FIA clarified: “The Stewards reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video, timing, and in-car video evidence. The evidence clearly showed that Car 63 was more than 125 meters behind the car in front during the Safety Car period.”

As a result, Russell received an additional penalty point on his super license. While this is his first penalty point in a rolling 12-month period, it serves as a reminder of the strict enforcement of F1 regulations, especially during critical phases like Safety Car deployments.

The penalty adds to the already dramatic narrative surrounding the Qatar Grand Prix, which has seen Verstappen and Russell at odds both on and off the track. With only one race remaining in the 2024 season, the tensions and penalties highlight the high stakes as drivers and teams push for every advantage.