George Russell discovers Canada GP penalty decision after being summoned to stewards.
George Russell had to face the stewards on Friday during Canadian Grand Prix practice but avoided any penalties despite failing to fully follow the race director’s guidelines.
The Mercedes driver received only a warning after taking an escape route at Turn 14 without fully complying with the prescribed procedure. The incident occurred after he lost control at Turn 13 and was forced to cut across the kerb at the next corner to avoid a crash.
Despite the moment, Russell ended the day as the fastest driver, posting an impressive lap time in Montreal.
George Russell, who remains the subject of ongoing speculation about his future with Mercedes, was summoned by the stewards to explain a questionable maneuver during practice. Typically, such Friday infractions can result in grid penalties, which would have been a setback.
However, Russell received only a warning. He clarified that his main concern was avoiding a crash, though he soon realized he had not followed the proper instructions. He apologized, and the stewards concluded that their decision aligned with previous rulings for similar situations.
His off-track moment didn’t interfere with other drivers or pose a safety risk. The FIA stewards explained in a statement that Russell had just changed tyres when he lost control at Turn 13 and had no choice but to leave the track at Turn 14. He admitted to crossing the orange line to avoid the wall and acknowledged his mistake immediately.
Given the context and lack of danger, a warning was deemed sufficient, consistent with past decisions at this circuit. The FIA also reminded teams of their right to appeal decisions under relevant regulations.
On the performance side, Russell topped the timesheets by 0.028 seconds ahead of Lando Norris. His Mercedes teammate, Kimi Antonelli, trailed by just 0.288 seconds in third, suggesting progress for the team. Current championship leader Oscar Piastri only managed sixth.
Speaking after the session, Russell remarked, “It might be my first time leading a session all year. It was a really positive day. We came into the weekend with higher hopes due to the cooler track and smoother surface, which suit our car better. In hot conditions we struggle, but in the cold, the tyres stay cooler, and that works for us. Today confirmed that. The lap was great — fully optimised, we gave it everything: full power, full effort.”
