Formula 1 is facing a significant overhaul of its protest procedures following Red Bull’s contentious challenges against George Russell’s victory at the Canadian Grand Prix. These protests, which questioned Russell’s driving behavior and sportsmanship, caused a prolonged delay before the FIA dismissed Red Bull’s claims five hours after the race in Montreal.

Details of Red Bull’s Challenge and Impact on Race Results

Red Bull’s repeated protests against Russell’s win created confusion and tension, as the final race results remained uncertain for hours. This situation added to ongoing conflicts this season, including earlier protests relating to a yellow flag incident involving Russell in Miami. Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, defended their right to raise what they considered valid concerns, but Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff expressed strong frustration over the tactics.

“a little bit of a long shot.”

—Toto Wolff, Mercedes Team Principal

FIA and Team Leaders Push for More Stringent Protest Rules

Wolff revealed that the FIA is exploring stricter penalties for teams filing protests, criticizing the current €2000 deposit as insufficient given the large budgets involved. He called for fines that would discourage frivolous challenges and potentially cause embarrassment for teams that lose their protests.

Plans under consideration include increasing the amount required to protest and introducing a cap on the number of protests per season, similar to how challenges are managed in tennis. While some stakeholders caution that the existing system functions adequately, others believe reforms are essential, especially with new regulations arriving in 2026 that might lead to more disputes.

Upcoming Discussion on Protest Reforms Expected at F1 Commission Meeting

The future of Formula 1’s protest system is set to be a central topic at the next F1 Commission meeting scheduled for July 22, just before the Belgian Grand Prix. As tensions continue over recent events involving teams like Red Bull and Mercedes, the outcome of this discussion could lead to substantial changes in how Formula 1 manages on-track controversies, potentially influencing the fairness and flow of future races.