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FIA Issues Verdict on George Russell’s Investigation at Canadian Grand Prix

The FIA has officially concluded its investigation into George Russell following a track limits incident during the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix weekend. The Mercedes Formula 1 driver was under scrutiny after an infringement during one of the practice sessions at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which hosts the 10th round of the 2025 F1 season.

The incident in question occurred at the exit of Turn 14 during Friday’s practice session. Russell was seen cutting the orange line on the pit exit, an area where strict rules are enforced to ensure cars rejoin the track safely. According to the FIA’s regulations, drivers must not cross the designated line that separates the pit exit from the racing surface, as it is designed to prevent unsafe re-entry and avoid potential collisions.

After a thorough review by the race stewards, Russell provided an explanation for the incident. He stated that his main priority at the time was avoiding the wall and maintaining control of the car. In doing so, however, he inadvertently crossed the orange line. The British driver acknowledged his mistake promptly, admitted that he had failed to comply with the specific instruction, and issued an apology for the breach.

The stewards noted that Russell’s actions did not endanger other competitors and that his re-entry to the track was not carried out in an unsafe manner. Furthermore, the FIA confirmed that no other cars were affected by the incident and there was no resulting disruption to the session.

Taking all circumstances into account, the stewards opted not to impose any formal penalty on Russell. Instead, they issued a warning, citing consistency with previous rulings for similar violations during free practice at the Canadian venue. The decision was made to maintain fairness and uniformity in the enforcement of regulations, especially in cases that occur during non-competitive sessions like practice, where leniency has historically been applied if the incident posed no safety risk.

This outcome comes as a relief to both Russell and the Mercedes team, as a harsher penalty—such as a grid drop or time sanction—could have impacted their performance heading into qualifying and the main race. The FIA’s ruling reaffirms its commitment to balanced judgment, considering both the letter of the law and the specific context of each incident.

Russell and the team will now shift their focus back to the remainder of the weekend, aiming for a strong showing in Saturday’s qualifying session and the Canadian Grand Prix itself on Sunday. With the incident behind him and no penalty to carry forward, the Mercedes driver will be looking to convert his practice pace into a competitive result as the 2025 F1 season continues to unfold.