Red Bull challenges George Russell’s Canadian Grand Prix win, stewards reject official protest

Formula One stewards rejected a Red Bull protest of George Russell’s Canadian Grand Prix victory for Mercedes on Sunday.

The stewards said in a lengthy statement issued five-and-a-half hours after the end of the race that the protest was not founded.

Red Bull, which forfeited its deposit, had Max Verstappen finish second.

They had argued Russell breached the rules by driving erratically when the safety car was deployed in the final laps of the race and also showed unsportsmanlike conduct.

READ: Canadian Grand Prix: George Russell holds off Max Verstappen for win as McLarens collide

The stewards dismissed the allegations.

While Russell and Verstappen are not friends and have clashed on the track, notably in Spain two weeks ago when Red Bull’s four-time world champion was heavily punished, Christian Horner, Red Bull principal, said it was not personal.

Red Bull has, however, protested twice in the space of five races now, both times against Russell.

In Miami in May, it protested the Briton’s third place, arguing the driver had failed to slow when yellow flags were waved during a virtual safety car period. Verstappen was fourth that time.

The stewards had rejected that protest as well.