The Canadian Grand Prix win by George Russell is a race victory that will be fondly remembered by the F1 world not only because of how it was won on the track but also because of the drama that was acted out in the stewards office subsequently long after the race was over. The victory was in question for a full five and half hours, as Red Bull made a formal protest to turn the result. However at 21:05 local Montreal time the result was known: Russell had performed sufficiently and the win was officially his.

It was a long-awaited victory to Russell and a huge morale booster to Mercedes, the other teams on the circuit who have not been able to race regularly this season. On pole position, the Briton demonstrated an experienced and strategically correct race, remaining calm in a tense situation and implementing the plans of the team with confidence. The actual drama though came after the race was over. Red Bull which was clearly dissatisfied with the manner, lodged two protests against the FIA stewards. They complained about Russell driving erratically under the safety car and that he had fallen over ten car lengths back, which may have been a race rules infringement.

The scenario was due to a safety car that appeared late in the race as a result of a dirty incident involving McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. It was a setback to McLaren at the time when both vehicles were in good positions to be able to score critical points. The inner conflict within the team put doubt in its communication and race discipline- which will possibly dog them in the second part of the season. It went down even sweeter for Norris given that he expressed signs of frustration earlier in the year when he was deprived of the chance to stand on the podium several times.

Speaking of protest again, Red Bull accused Russell also in his radio channel because he told that Max Verstappen passed him despite the safety car, which is defined as the unsportsmanlike behavior. It was a strange and rather desperate reproach, even by the standards of the cutthroat Formula One. They however went to the stewards room, and both Russel and Verstappen were called in to discuss every bit of what had happened following the safety car.

The protest was fully dismissed by the stewards in the end. The official report showed that there was no enough evidence to show that Russell had driven dangerously or been involved in any form of unsportsmanlike conduct. They took his excuse that he braked and positioned at the time of the safety car and considered that his radio communication regarding Verstappen was within the limit of what could be termed as sportsmanship.

In the case of Russell it was vindication. He had moved meticulously on the track and he was now legally sure of his victory. Mercedes camp led by Russell, sporting director Ron Meadows and trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin made their case strongly. The stewards gave in their final document that nothing in the driving of Russell amounted to erratic behaviour and although the protest did not claim this they went an extra mile to add that Russell was not in any way sporting unsportingly.

This victory will not only provide a morale boost to Russell but it will be a turning point of the season, which has been dominated by Red Bull and Verstappen to a great extent. Despite the fact that Verstappen still attained second place, the breakdowns in the composure of Red Bull teams were apparent. The fact that the team is keen on overturning the decision, as opposed to taking a defeat on its stride indicates that pressure is building up as the season unfolded.

And in the case of McLaren, the lesson comes out all the more uncomfortable. Team principal Andrea Stella will need to find hard answers after the crash of Norris and Piastri. Nothing is worse than intra-team skirmishes in a game that requires team work of even the opponents to dream of winning the title. No matter what caused it, be it a communication breakdown, bad judgement, or bad luck, it is an event that no high-caliber team wants as a repeat.

In previewing, ripple effects of Montreal are sure to occur. Mercedes can get a shot of confidence, and Red Bull can now understand that it cannot win all the time. And McLaren? Some serious internal reviewing is necessary. In brief, the Canadian Grand Prix was a summary of all that is so appealing about Formula One: intense racing, political intrigue, and an insidious duel between logic and gut.

Follow us on Zeroto30s social channels:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30s

Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeroto30s

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s