Red Bull protest over yellow flags in Miami rejected

Red Bull has has a a protest against George Russell rejected after claiming the Mercedes driver failed to slow for yellow flags during the Miami Grand Prix.

Russell jumped ahead of Max Verstappen during the pit stop phase of Sunday’s race, with the Mercedes driver able to make a stop under virtual safety car conditions and finish in third place. However, when Gabriel Bortoleto retired on lap 33, Verstappen radioed his team to check if Russell had slowed down under yellow flags.

The Dutchman was later told to stay within 5s of Russell despite no messages on race control about any investigation, and after Verstappen finished 2.3s adrift of the Mercedes, Red Bull then protested against Russell.

However, the stewards determined Russell had significantly lifted off the throttle in response to the yellow flag, and rejected Red Bull’s claim on the basis that his speed had still been increasing on part throttle.

“It was evident from the onboard footage as well as from telemetry that Car No. 63 lifted the throttle when passing the yellow flag zone,” the stewards said. “The throttle was lifted by approx. 25 percent and this resulted in a reduction of torque of approx. 30 percent.

“Article 26.1. a) requires the driver to have “discernibly reduced speed” in a yellow flag zone but does not specify if that means reducing the absolute speed or reducing the speed relative to the regular racing speed in the relevant part of the track.

“The speed of Car No. 63 in the yellow flag zone was considerably slower than the regular racing speed, but the absolute speed while passing through the yellow flag zone increased slightly.

“The Stewards determine that the requirement of Article 26.1 a) concerning the reduction of speed in a yellow flag zone can only relate to a reduction relative to the regular racing speed as the reduction of the absolute speed can, depending on the part of the track in which the yellow flag is displayed, represent a compliance or a non-compliance with the regulations whereas a reduction of the relative speed always signals that the driver has acknowledged and respected the yellow flag. For instance, in a braking zone the absolute speed can be reduced without necessarily complying with the regulations.”

The rejection of the appeal confirms Russell in third place ahead of Verstappen in fourth.

Separately, both Carlos Sainz and Pierre Gasly were also given warnings for failing to slow under yellow flags having only been shown a single waved yellow — and no light panel — that was displayed against a yellow background. With no other audible warning and Bortoleto’s stricken car hidden behind a barrier, the stewards accepted mitigating circumstances meant the drivers were unaware of the yellow flag zone.