In a shocking turn of events at the Miami Grand Prix, the FIA has spoken! After Red Bull’s dramatic protest against Mercedes driver George Russell for allegedly not slowing down under yellow flags, the race result is finally settled. The FIA has officially rejected Red Bull’s protest, confirming Russell’s podium finish of P3.
Red Bull argued that although Russell lifted off the throttle when the yellow flag was out, he did not decrease speed enough to comply with regulations. On the other hand, Mercedes defended Russell, stating that lifting the throttle significantly in a yellow flag zone is the standard reaction accepted by all teams and the FIA.
Upon reviewing onboard footage, the stewards concluded that Russell did slow down in the yellow flag zone, aligning with the Sporting Regulations. As a result, Red Bull’s protest was dismissed, and a protest forfeit was enforced due to the tardiness of the challenge.
But what if the FIA had ruled against Russell? The typical penalty for failing to slow under yellow flags is a 10-second time penalty, which would have cost Russell his podium position, bumping Max Verstappen up to a podium finish instead.
Not only Russell but also Pierre Gasly and Carlos Sainz were under scrutiny for the same offense. Fortunately for them, both drivers escaped penalties as the stewards found that the yellow flag was not visible to them during the race. Therefore, Sainz’s P9 finish and Gasly’s P13 result have been upheld.
The FIA’s announcement of the final race order at the Miami GP has put an end to the turmoil caused by Red Bull’s last-minute protest. The on-track action may have been intense, but the off-track drama has certainly kept fans on the edge of their seats.
