12/04/2025 20:35
George Russell believes it would be "ridiculous" if Mercedes was
punished for an unusual incident during qualifying for the Bahrain
Grand Prix. Earlier in the second session at the Bahrain
International Circuit, Haas driver Esteban Ocon was involved in a
heavy shunt which led to qualifying being red-flagged. Following a
lengthy delay, Russell and team-mate Kimi Antonelli left the garage
and lined up at the end of the pit lane to get on with the session
as quickly as possible. However, the FIA soon placed the drivers
under investigation for leaving the garage before the Q2 resumption
time was announced. Explaining what unfolded, speaking to Viaplay,
Russell said: "There was a message on the screen that said,
'Expected restart time', which is a very unusual message. "Normally
it is, 'The restart time is...' whatever. As soon as we saw this
message, we went, because normally it's a race [to get to the end
of the pit lane]. "And as soon as we went we realised it was an
expected restart, not the restart. So I mean, you know, it's Q2,
run one. "It would be pretty ridiculous to be penalised for this.
But then again, there are stranger things that happen in this
sport. "If you get a 20,000 euro fine because you're on the toilet,
who knows." The final comment was a pointed reference to the fact
Williams driver Carlos Sainz was fined that amount after being late
for the start of the national anthem ceremony ahead of last
Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix as he required an emergency trip to
the toilet. That was despite the fact Sainz was suffering from a
stomach complaint, confirmed by the FIA doctor.
