The FIA has officially dismissed a protest filed by Red Bull Racing following the Miami Grand Prix, preserving George Russell’s third-place finish and confirming the race’s final standings.
Red Bull lodged a complaint alleging that Mercedes driver George Russell failed to properly slow under yellow flag conditions, in potential violation of Appendix H, Article 2.5.5 b) of the International Sporting Code. They argued that while Russell briefly lifted off the throttle, he did not sufficiently reduce speed to comply with the regulations.
Mercedes countered that Russell’s response aligned with standard protocol—namely, that lifting the throttle during a yellow flag zone is widely accepted as an appropriate action.
After reviewing onboard footage, FIA stewards concluded that Russell did slow down to a level below typical racing speed and had “discernibly reduced speed,” in line with Article 26.1 a) of the Sporting Regulations—the same article cited by Red Bull in their complaint.
As a result, the protest was deemed unfounded and was rejected. The stewards also confirmed a protest forfeit due to the timing of Red Bull’s challenge.
What If Russell Had Been Penalized?
Had the protest been upheld, Russell would likely have received a 10-second time penalty, dropping him to fourth place and promoting Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to the podium.
In a related matter, Pierre Gasly and Carlos Sainz were also investigated for potential yellow flag violations. However, both drivers escaped penalties after footage revealed the yellow flag was not visible from their positions on the track. Each received a warning.
Sainz retains his ninth-place, points-scoring finish, while Gasly remains in 13th.
The FIA’s decision confirms the final race order for the Miami Grand Prix.