Red Bull faced criticism for appealing the Canadian Grand Prix result, delaying the confirmation of George Russell’s victory.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff called the move “petty” and “embarrassing,” with fans and media reacting negatively to the situation.
The stewards eventually cleared Russell of wrongdoing after a more than five-hour delay, but Max Verstappen had already left, not waiting to see if he would inherit the win.
Red Bull’s protest focused on Russell’s driving under the safety car, but both claims were dismissed, raising concerns about the protest process.
Wolff criticized the timing of the protest, while Red Bull’s Christian Horner defended their right to appeal and expressed no regrets.
Teams can protest race outcomes when they suspect a regulation violation or missed evidence, with Red Bull’s appeal costing €2,000.
Red Bull had previously protested Russell’s driving in the Miami Grand Prix, but both claims were rejected.
While not targeting Russell, Red Bull’s repeated protests question the current appeal process, suggesting a need for stricter guidelines to avoid delays in race results.
