After the Japanese Grand Prix, an investigation was launched into George Russell’s actions by the F1 stewards.
They were examining a late maneuver on Oscar Piastri that resulted in the McLaren driver being forced off the track.
George Russell has avoided punishment for forcing Oscar Piastri off track late in the Japanese Grand Prix.
The Briton attempted a bold overtake heading into the final chicane with a few laps left to go. But he ended up leaving little room for the McLaren and so Piastri had to take the run-off to avoid a collision.
He stayed in front as a result, but Russell got the overtake done shortly afterwards anyway to finish seventh on the road. However, the stewards investigated that move to see if the Mercedes driver had been too aggressive in his first attempt.
After studying the footage and hearing both sides of the story, they decided a penalty for Russell was not necessary. No further action was taken against the Briton and his finishing position is secure.
The stewards said the circumstances of the incident meant it was “challenging” to arrive at a final decision. They eventually decided that Russell did not “dive in” to the corner and felt he had “left sufficient room” for Piastri who decided instead to take the safer option and use the run-off area.
The report also revealed that “both drivers and team representatives agreed this incident did not warrant the imposition of any penalty”.
Speaking after the race, Russell said: “We moved forward today and that was positive. The plan to start on the hard tyre after the red flag was to give us the flexibility to attempt either a one-stop or a two-stop.
Having the freedom to choose our strategy was beneficial, and we ultimately decided to go with the two-stop plan since the one-stop strategy was not effective.
The beginning of the race was difficult, but our pace improved after the initial pit stop and we were able to keep up with the cars in front of us. “It was a thrilling competition as we approached the finish line.
Being on the offensive rather than the defensive was a welcomed change, and the intense racing was enjoyable. There was a slight collision with Oscar, but it was just a racing incident, and I was pleased to ultimately secure the position.”
The competition among the four teams following Red Bull is tight, and qualifying will be crucial in every race. The team that starts in a better position is likely to lead the pack.
It is acknowledged that there is room for improvement, and efforts will continue to be made. It is hoped that a circuit like the one in China will be more favorable for the team.