Source: REUTERS/Gintare Karpaviciute
[Saba Sports News] Following Red Bull’s protest against George Russell in the Canadian Grand Prix, which was later dismissed, the FIA is considering a new rule: teams that file an invalid protest will face fines. This plan was disclosed by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and has sparked wide debate about the transparency and fairness of the F1 protest system. The incident originated from Red Bull’s protest against Russell during the Montreal race, accusing him of overtaking incorrectly under the safety car and failing to maintain the required distance. Although Russell crossed the line first, the protest delayed the outcome for six hours, until the FIA ruled that Red Bull’s appeal was invalid and confiscated its €2,000 deposit. This protest caused the Mercedes representative to miss a flight, leading to complaints. In response, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem is pushing for reform of the protest system, aiming to introduce fines to make teams more cautious when filing protests and avoid unnecessary disruptions.