16/06/2025 00:36
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has explained the
reasoning behind the outfit launching multiple protests against
Canadian Grand Prix winner George Russell. Russell converted pole
position into victory ahead of Max Verstappen at the Circuit Gilles
Villeneuve; however, caused controversy during a late safety car. A
collision between both McLaren drivers saw the race finish behind
the safety car, allowing Verstappen to get close to his Mercedes
rival. Whilst behind the safety car along the main straight,
Russell suddenly braked heavily, causing Verstappen to move
momentarily into the lead. In addition, the Briton fell beyond 10
lengths behind the safety car. As explained by Horner, it is the
two reasons why multiple protests were lodged. "It will obviously
come out in the documentation," Horner told select media, including
RacingNews365 . "But there's two protests that we've put to the
stewards, that we've asked them to have a look at. "Firstly,
relating to the erratic driving behind the safety car, where,
George, very heavily braked, obviously looking in his mirror for
Max. "And then the second one is very clearly the distance that
was left behind the safety car that was well in excess, I think it
is three times in excess of the permitted distance. "So it's gone
to the stewards, it's within our right to, obviously, protest that.
So we've lodged the protests with the stewards now, and we'll see
what we say." When asked if Verstappen was eager for a protest to
be lodged, Horner replied: "Max was talking to you guys (the
media), he had no idea. "It's within the competitors right to
raise a protest, it's €2000 per protest, and we were surprised that
they weren't noted to send to the stewards. "So therefore you have
the right as a competitor to do that, and that's what we've chosen
to do, which is why Max and the guys are in front of the stewards
now."
