George Russell verdict reached in alleged Azerbaijan GP qualifying infringement

George Russell has been reprimanded after allegedly failing to slow for yellow flags in Q1 during Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying.

The Mercedes driver qualified fifth in Saturday’s qualifying session for Mercedes, and will hold onto that placing after the results of the investigation were reached.

George Russell reprimanded for alleged failure to slow for yellow flags

Russell was called to the stewards along with a Mercedes representative at 7.30pm local time [4.30pm BST] to discuss the alleged infringement, which took place 10 minutes into the Q1 session at the Baku City Circuit.

He avoided a grid penalty for the incident, however, and the FIA declared this a similar case to one involving Charles Leclerc earlier this weekend, though made a distinction between the two.

“This was a very similar case to the decision of this panel of Stewards regarding Charles Leclerc with some important differences,” read the stewards’ verdict.

“Sainz ran into the runoff at Turn 2. Russell was the next car on track and was fully committed to his braking, and unlike Leclerc, was already turning into the corner, when the yellow flag was displayed on the far right of the runoff.

“The Stewards consider that there was no reasonable way for Russell to have seen that flag and even if he had, he could not have changed his braking.

“Once he rounded the corner, Russell accelerated normally. Unlike Leclerc, however, the illuminated green light panel between turn 2 and turn 3, was a significant distance further down the track and harder to see at the point of acceleration than in the case of Leclerc. But, ultimately, Russell did see the green.

“Russell also did not get the benefit of the DRS in that zone because it was automatically switched off, slowing his lap.

“The Stewards pointed out in the Leclerc decision many mitigating factors. In this case, the Stewards believe there is further mitigation.

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“Thus, in this limited set of circumstances, in particular that the yellow flag could not have been seen, the Stewards order a Driving Reprimand rather than a more serious penalty.

“The Stewards recommend that this matter be clarified in the next Drivers’ meeting and note that these penalties should not represent a binding precedent.”

The Mercedes driver is set to start on the third row on Sunday, and reflecting on the session afterwards, believed his position was reflective of where the team were able to perform on Saturday.

“We thought after FP3 realistically [we could qualify] P4,” he told reporters in Baku.

“I think we were a little bit lower on fuel than most people and higher power. So, reasonably happy.

“Ferrari always seem to have a trick of a sleeve when it comes to these street circuits, C5 tyres, I don’t know what it is, but it’s been a theme for five years or so – so we need to try and figure out what that is.

“Still five tenths, I think, to the top guys and my laps felt really strong. I was really happy with the car today.

“You can always say I could have got a little bit more, but that kind of felt like everything.”

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