George Russell`s third-place finish in the Miami Grand Prix has been confirmed after Red Bull`s post-race protest against the Mercedes driver was dismissed by the stewards.
Russell secured third place, finishing just ahead of Max Verstappen. Red Bull filed a protest, claiming Russell did not slow down sufficiently under a single-waved yellow flag during the race.
Following a hearing with representatives from both teams, the stewards ultimately rejected Red Bull`s protest.
Verstappen finished 2.3 seconds behind Russell. A time penalty for Russell could have promoted Verstappen to third place instead of fourth.
During the hearing, Red Bull argued that while Russell lifted the throttle, he `did not reduce speed` and thus violated regulations.
Mercedes countered, stating that the accepted practice (`common practice accepted by all teams and the FIA`) for yellow flags involves `significantly lifting the throttle`, which they claimed Russell did, complying with regulations.
They added that Russell had indeed significantly lifted off the throttle upon seeing the stranded Sauber car.
The stewards dismissed Red Bull`s case, resulting in the team forfeiting their protest deposit.
In their conclusions, the stewards noted that onboard footage and telemetry confirmed Russell lifted the throttle in the yellow flag zone, showing approximately a 25 percent throttle lift and a 30 percent torque reduction.
They referenced Article 26.1(a), which requires drivers to have `discernibly reduced speed` under yellow flags, but noted it doesn`t specify if this means reducing absolute speed or speed relative to regular racing speed on that part of the track.
Russell`s speed in the zone was significantly slower than his normal racing speed, although his absolute speed increased slightly.
The stewards ruled that the requirement refers to speed reduction relative to normal racing speed, as reducing relative speed always indicates compliance, unlike reducing absolute speed which might or might not depending on the track section (e.g., a braking zone).
They gave an example: in a braking zone, absolute speed can decrease without necessarily complying with the yellow flag rule.
This decision means Russell keeps his fourth podium finish of the season and leaves Miami just six points behind Verstappen in the Drivers` Championship.
In the Constructors` Championship, Mercedes remains second, 36 points ahead of Red Bull, but now 105 points behind dominant leaders McLaren.
The European part of the F1 season starts with the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on May 16-18.
Marcus Prine