The Canadian Grand Prix saw Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli finish on the podium Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says Red Bull's protest was "petty" and "embarrassing" as George Russell finished first ahead of four-time world champion Max Verstappen at Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix. Russell claimed Mercedes' first win of the season as the race finished under the safety car, withLando Norris having hit McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri's caron the pit straight with four laps to go. Red Bull lodged a protest, claiming Russell drove "erratically" behind the safety car and displayed "unsportsmanlike behaviour", but it was rejected by the stewards. "First of all, it took team Red Bull Racing two hours before they launched the protest, so that was in their doing," Wolff told Sky Sports at the New York premiere ofF1, starring Brad Pitt. "It's so petty and so small. They come up with some weird clauses, what they call clauses. I guess the FIA needs to look at that because it's so far-fetched it was rejected. "You know, you race, you win and you lose on track. That was a fair victory for us, like so many they had in the past. And it's just embarrassing." Red Bull boss Christian Horner, also in attendance at the movie launch, suggested he had no regrets lodging a complaint. "No, absolutely not. I mean, it's a team's right to do so. We saw something we didn't think was quite right. "You have the ability to put it in front of the stewards and so that's what we chose to do. Absolutely no regrets in that." Sunday's discord was not the first time Red Bull and Mercedes have clashed this season. At the Spanish Grand Prix, Red Bull'sMax Verstappen said "frustration" led to his collision with George Russell.
Red Bull's Russell protest 'petty' and 'embarrassing' - Wolff
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Mercedes' Wolff Criticizes Red Bull's Protest as Petty Following Canadian Grand Prix"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
The Canadian Grand Prix was a notable event for Mercedes, as George Russell secured the team's first victory of the season, finishing ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen. The race concluded under a safety car after a collision between McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, which occurred with just four laps remaining. Following the race, Red Bull lodged a protest against Russell, alleging that he had driven 'erratically' during the safety car period and exhibited 'unsportsmanlike behavior.' However, the stewards dismissed the protest, leading Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff to criticize Red Bull's actions as 'petty' and 'embarrassing.' Wolff emphasized that Red Bull's delay in filing the protest—taking two hours post-race—indicated a lack of seriousness in their claims, and he defended Russell's performance as a fair and legitimate victory. He also called for the FIA to review the basis of such protests, suggesting they were unfounded and overly speculative.
Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull, responded to Wolff's comments by stating that he had no regrets about initiating the protest, asserting that it was within the team's rights to raise concerns they believed warranted scrutiny. Horner maintained that they acted on what they perceived as an issue during the race, emphasizing the importance of accountability in racing. The tension between Red Bull and Mercedes is not new, as evidenced by previous conflicts earlier in the season, including an incident at the Spanish Grand Prix where Verstappen's frustration led to a collision with Russell. This ongoing rivalry highlights the competitive nature of Formula 1, where teams are willing to challenge each other both on and off the track to secure their positions and uphold their standards of sportsmanship.
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