Source: Imagn Images/David Kirouac
[Saba Sports News] Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner made significant accusations after the race in Montreal, directly accusing Mercedes driver George Russell of deliberate maneuvering during the safety car phase of the Canadian Grand Prix. Horner accused Russell of using unconventional braking actions to provoke Max Verstappen into an illegal overtake, aiming to trigger penalty points that could lead to a ban. The incident occurred when the safety car was being withdrawn near the end of the race. Onboard footage clearly showed: leading driver Russell suddenly braked hard at the end of the pit lane straight while keeping his rearview mirror locked on trailing Verstappen. When the Red Bull driver instinctively avoided the potential collision, Russell immediately radioed a complaint to the stewards about “overtaking under the safety car.” If the allegations are proven true, Verstappen could face additional penalty points that may result in a race ban – the reigning champion was just one point away from the penalty threshold at the time. Regarding this, Horner bluntly stated in a post-race interview: “The correlation between Russell’s braking action and his use of the rearview mirror indicates typical inducing behavior.” Horner aimed his criticism directly at Russell’s deeper motivations, especially when both drivers shared the front row after qualifying. Smiling in front of the camera, the British driver quipped: “I still have some points left on my license, let’s see what happens.” This statement was interpreted by Horner as having clear intent and a direct connection to the controversial maneuvers during the race. Some fans remarked that even though FIA rejected Red Bull’s two protests, the onboard video showing Russell’s clear locking of the rearview mirror while braking has become crucial evidence.