Christian Horner has drawn parallels between George Russell‘s conduct at the Canadian Grand Prix and Oscar Piastri‘s penalty during the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, stirring further debate in the George Russell Silverstone penalty controversy. At Silverstone, following a safety car period, Piastri unexpectedly braked hard, dropping his speed drastically and forcing Max Verstappen to overtake him; Verstappen was then handed a 10-second penalty. Horner argued that Russell’s similar behavior in Canada should have resulted in a penalty as well.
During the final laps of the Canadian Grand Prix, Russell was accused of driving unpredictably behind the safety car, prompting Red Bull to file a complaint with the FIA. However, the governing body decided against penalizing Russell, allowing him to retain his race victory. Addressing the issue after the British Grand Prix, Horner expressed his views on the situation, as reported by Autosport:
“I wasn’t surprised to see him get a penalty. That was what you would expect. It was probably more surprising that George didn’t get one in Montreal, to be honest with you. But yeah, that’s it. Unfortunately, our race unfolded from that point.”
—Christian Horner, Red Bull Team Principal
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen experienced a challenging race at Silverstone, struggling in wet conditions and eventually finishing fifth. The weather and track conditions added to the intensity of the race, which was marked by various strategic plays from different teams.
George Russell Anticipated a Tight Competition at Silverstone
George Russell also faced difficulties at the 2025 British Grand Prix, starting the race from fifth place and eventually finishing in tenth after a series of strategic missteps. Several teams, including Sauber and Aston Martin, executed their strategies well, allowing drivers like Nico Hulkenberg and Lance Stroll to finish in third and seventh places respectively.
After qualifying on Saturday, Russell shared his expectations for a highly competitive race involving multiple drivers, stating:
“Obviously the conditions are favorable, but it’s taken us from being off the pace to sort of being there or thereabouts – it hasn’t sort of propelled us to the front. I think it’s probably fair to say that we overachieved a little bit today, especially in terms of the gaps, we definitely overachieved. Ferrari obviously struggled on that last lap. Tomorrow’s probably going to be a six-way fight.”
—George Russell, Mercedes Driver
Russell’s anticipation of a “six-way fight” highlights the unpredictable and tense nature of the race, which, combined with weather challenges and strategic maneuvers, proved difficult for his team.
Looking Ahead to Spa-Francorchamps
As the 2025 Formula 1 season progresses, the Belgium Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps presents an opportunity for George Russell and Mercedes to recover from their difficulties at Silverstone. The iconic racing circuit is known for its demanding layout and changing weather, which may once again test team strategies and driver skill. With the ongoing George Russell Silverstone penalty controversy still fresh, all eyes will be on how Russell performs and whether fairness in race rulings continues to spark debate in the paddock.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What happened between George Russell and Max Verstappen?
A. MONTREAL — George Russell mentioned he was not surprised that Max Verstappen didn’t own up to their crash in Spain. Russell explained that such behavior is not typical for Verstappen. In the final laps of the Barcelona race, Verstappen aggressively collided with the side of Russell’s car. This incident nearly resulted in Verstappen facing a one-race suspension.
