George Russell Secures Victory at Canadian Grand Prix Following Red Bull Appeal Rejection
George Russell has officially claimed his first victory of the 2023 season at the Canadian Grand Prix, following the dismissal of an appeal lodged by Red Bull Racing. The race, held at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, saw Russell cross the finish line ahead of Max Verstappen, who initially finished second.
Post-race, Red Bull filed two complaints with FIA stewards concerning Russell’s conduct during a late safety car period, which was necessitated by a collision between McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, alleged that Russell had "braked erratically" and fallen behind the mandated 10 car lengths behind the safety car.
After a lengthy deliberation, the stewards announced their decision at 21:05 local time, rejecting Red Bull’s claims. The official statement noted, "The protest is rejected as it is not founded." The stewards found no basis for the claims of erratic driving or unsportsmanlike behavior on Russell’s part.
In their defense, Russell was accompanied by Mercedes Sporting Director Ron Meadows and Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin during the appeal process. The stewards concluded, “We accept the driver of Car 63’s explanation of the incident and are satisfied that he did not brake erratically.” Additionally, they found no evidence of unsportsmanlike conduct related to Russell’s reporting of Verstappen’s actions during the safety car phase.
With the appeal overruled, Russell’s victory is secure, bringing momentum to Mercedes as the season progresses.
