Red Bull Racing entered the Canadian Grand Prix weekend with concerns that rivals would attempt to provoke Max Verstappen into incurring penalty points, potentially leading to a race ban. With Verstappen teetering on 11 penalty points—just one shy of an automatic suspension—after a collision with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix, the team feared that his competitors might exploit the situation. Team principal Christian Horner revealed that Red Bull had proactively engaged with Formula 1 race director Rui Marques to voice these concerns and seek assurance against any "gamesmanship."
The worries seemed to materialize during the race. After George Russell secured pole position, his comments about having "a few more points on my license to play with" were interpreted by Red Bull as a deliberate attempt to put Verstappen on edge. Later, during a safety car period triggered by a collision between the McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, Russell braked on the back straight, prompting Verstappen to briefly overtake him. Russell then reported this to his team, leading Red Bull to accuse him of unsportsmanlike conduct, suggesting he was trying to instigate an investigation into Verstappen.
Red Bull subsequently lodged a protest against Russell, alleging erratic driving behind the safety car and "unsportsmanlike intent." They presented telemetry data indicating Russell had braked suddenly and looked in his mirrors beforehand, implying premeditation. However, the FIA stewards dismissed the protest, accepting Russell's explanation that his braking was appropriate and not excessive. They also stated that simply reporting the overtake did not constitute misconduct and that Russell's actions did not amount to unsportsmanlike behavior.
The stewards' decision highlighted the tension between Red Bull and Mercedes, a rivalry that has intensified since the controversial 2021 title decider. This isn't the first time Red Bull has protested Russell; a similar attempt occurred at the Miami Grand Prix, where they argued Russell failed to slow sufficiently for yellow flags. The stewards did not accept that argument either.
Former F1 driver Martin Brundle had earlier suggested that Verstappen's rivals should try to provoke him to gain penalty points, given his proximity to a ban. He noted Verstappen's aggressive driving style and suggested that his rivals should try to exploit it. While Verstappen has faced criticism for his on-track tactics, Horner defended his driver, asserting that Verstappen had maintained a clean record throughout the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, despite the concerns raised.
Despite Red Bull's unsuccessful protest, the incident underscores the intense competition and psychological gamesmanship prevalent in Formula 1. The team's proactive engagement with the FIA and their post-race protest demonstrate their determination to protect Verstappen from potential manipulation by rival teams. The rivalry between Verstappen and Russell, and by extension, Red Bull and Mercedes, is set to continue, with each team vying for every possible advantage on and off the track. The next opportunity for the pair to settle their rivalry will be at Red Bull's home track.
