Red Bull’s Canadian Grand Prix protest proves one thing and it’s not an agenda against George Russell

Red Bull failed with a protest against Canadian Grand Prix winner George Russell last Sunday, after they alleged that the Mercedes driver showed unsportsmanlike intent.

The FIA’s race stewards threw the protest out after dismissing the claims Red Bull raised that Russell breached the F1 sporting regulations, as well as the International Sporting Code. Red Bull would have benefited from a penalty for either claim by giving Max Verstappen the win.

Russell sparked Red Bull’s suspicions during the safety car period that followed Lando Norris crashing into Oscar Piastri in Canada. They argued the Mercedes racer braked unnecessarily and erratically behind the safety car, which saw Verstappen briefly overtake the 27-year-old.

Red Bull further alleged that Russell checked his mirror to spot Verstappen before he braked and was then unsporting by highlighting that the Dutchman briefly got in front of the Briton. But the FIA stewards rejected all of Red Bull’s claims, ensuring Russell won the Canadian GP.

Red Bull’s George Russell protest proves they still think Max Verstappen can win the 2025 F1 title

Despite Red Bull failing with their attempt to get Russell a penalty that would have given the Canadian GP win to Verstappen, Tom Coronel ‘loves’ they tried their protest. The Dutchman thinks it proves Red Bull still feel Verstappen can win the F1 drivers’ championship this term.

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Coming second to Russell in Montreal meant Verstappen reduced his deficit to McLaren pair Piastri and Norris atop the standings to 43 and 21 points respectively. He was 49 points from the lead when Verstappen fell to his biggest championship for 1,148 days at the Spanish GP.

Coronel told RacingNews365: “Verstappen and Red Bull should not give up hope for a title yet. They don’t, you can see that. That’s why there are these protests, and they are going all in. I love it. It’s really great to see that they don’t give up.”

Christian Horner rubbishes claims Red Bull’s protest proved an agenda against George Russell

Coronel’s proposal that Red Bull’s protest against Russell at the Canadian GP proves they are ‘all in’ on Verstappen winning his fifth drivers’ title in as many seasons even further supports team principal Christian Horner rubbishing claims his squad have an agenda against Russell.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff feels Red Bull’s protest against Russell in Canada was ‘ridiculous’ as the Briton looked for Verstappen in his mirrors before braking behind the safety car to see if it was safe. It was also not the first time Red Bull have protested against Russell this year.

Red Bull failed with a protest against Russell at the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, as well, after the Milton Keynes team argued the King’s Lynn native had failed to slow under yellow flags. Like in Canada, the stewards dismissed Red Bull’s bid to see Verstappen inherit Russell’s position.

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But while Red Bull have now tried and failed to see Verstappen get Russell’s P3 in the Miami GP and his victory at the Canadian GP with formal protests, team principal Horner rubbishes the idea that his outfit have anything against the Briton and are just working the regulations.

“It’s certainly not personal to George,” Horner said, via quotes by The Race. “The way that the regulations are, the regulations are pretty binary, pretty clear, so we put in a protest.

“The regulations are very clear about the safety car. If you remember, Checo [Perez] back in Singapore in ‘22 got two penalties for it. So, there were very clear precedents.”

But Horner warned the FIA that rival drivers could try to dupe Verstappen into a penalty in Canada, with his claims sparked by Russell’s comments ahead of the Grand Prix. The Briton referenced that Verstappen is one penalty point from a race ban, which remains the case.