Mercedes’ Wolff Criticizes Red Bull’s Protest After Russell’s Montreal Win
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has harshly criticized Red Bull Racing’s decision to protest George Russell’s victory at the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix, calling the actions “embarrassing.” Russell secured his first Formula 1 win in Montreal, overtaking Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in a race abruptly ended behind the safety car following Lando Norris’s crash.
Red Bull launched a two-part protest claiming that Russell’s driving was erratic during the late safety car period, allegedly causing Verstappen to overshoot him. They also referenced Russell’s adherence to a 10-car-length rule, but later withdrew that protest after it was deemed that Russell was merely following delta time protocols.
Wolff, addressing the media at an F1 movie premiere in New York, stated, "It’s so petty and so small. They launched the protest two hours after the race; they’ve done this before. To call out unsportsmanlike behavior over driving tactics is trivial." He expressed confidence that Verstappen himself would not have supported such a protest.
In contrast, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner defended the protest, asserting, “It’s a team’s right to raise concerns. We saw something we didn’t think was right and chose to put it in front of the stewards. Absolutely no regrets.”
The FIA ultimately rejected Red Bull’s protest, stating that periodic braking behind the safety car is common to maintain tire temperature and found no grounds for Russell’s communication regarding Verstappen’s driving to be unsportsmanlike.
Verstappen is now one penalty point shy of a one-race ban. Horner noted that potential gamesmanship from rivals aimed at provoking Verstappen into mistakes was raised during official briefings, emphasizing a need for monitoring such tactics throughout the races.
This incident continues to illustrate the heightened tensions between top teams as the competition for supremacy intensifies in the current F1 season.
