Russell Triumphs, Red Bull Crumbles: Verstappen Caught in ‘Petty’ Protest Storm After Canadian GP Showdown
George Russell clinched a dramatic win at the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix, edging out Max Verstappen in a race that ended under Safety Car conditions. However, the final laps were marred by controversy, as both drivers accused each other of bending the rules during the neutralised period. Red Bull lodged an official protest, challenging the legality of Russell’s actions, but the stewards swiftly rejected the complaint, calling it “unfounded.”
This marked Red Bull’s second failed protest against Russell in as many months, following a similar incident at the Miami Grand Prix. The repeated challenges prompted a sharp response from Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. Speaking after the ruling, Wolff expressed confidence in Verstappen’s integrity as a racer and distanced him from the protest effort.
“I’m 100% sure it’s not Max behind this,” Wolff said. “He’s a true racer—he wouldn’t stoop to complaining about something so petty. These protests are embarrassing.”
The race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve saw intense competition between the two drivers before the Safety Car froze the order in the final laps. Despite the controversy, Russell remained composed, securing his first win of the season and further escalating the rivalry between Mercedes and Red Bull.
As tensions between the two teams continue to mount, the spotlight remains firmly on Verstappen and Russell—two of the sport’s fiercest competitors, caught in a high-stakes title battle that’s proving as political as it is fast.
