Mercedes Formula 1 driver George Russell was forced to miss the Miami Grand Prix after-party celebrations, citing a sudden bout of stomach cramps that left him struggling to stand by the end of the race.
Russell joined McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and another podium finisher in celebrating after a thrilling Miami GP, where Piastri secured his fourth win of the season and Russell claimed a strong third-place finish. But any post-race partying plans were quickly shelved for the Briton.
During Piastri’s interview with Viaplay, Russell playfully interrupted and joked about seeing how the Australian would celebrate his latest victory. But when Piastri asked about the night’s plans, Russell admitted:
“I feel horrendous right now, so I’m hitting bed… don’t join me there.”
True to form, Piastri quipped in return:
“Yeah, I’ll leave you to that.”
Miami Heat Takes Its Toll on Russell
Russell later revealed to the media that the final 10 laps were grueling due to the intense stomach cramps, making it hard to even remain upright during post-race proceedings. His discomfort was severe enough to keep him out of the traditional post-race press conference, typically attended by all three podium drivers.
To add to the drama, Russell was briefly under scrutiny after Red Bull filed a protest, alleging he failed to slow down under yellow flag conditions. However, race stewards reviewed the incident and dismissed the claim, confirming that Russell had appropriately lifted off the throttle in accordance with F1 regulations.
Despite the physical setback and the post-race controversy, Russell’s third-place finish in Miami marked his fourth podium of the season. He now trails Max Verstappen by just six points in the drivers’ standings, making the title race even more exciting as the season unfolds.