George Russell criticised the stewards’ decision to issue no penalties after five drivers cut the first corner at the start of the Mexican Grand Prix.
The Mercedes driver said Max Verstappen’s cut across the run-off area between turns one and three was the most egregious.
“Max fully sent it across the grass and one of the Ferraris just bails onto the grass,” he told Viaplay. Verstappen and Charles Leclerc were the first two drivers to cut across the run-off at turn one.
Leclerc passed race leader Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton by leaving the track, and handed a position back to the McLaren driver but not his team mate.
Verstappen arrived at turn one on the outside of Norris, Hamilton and Leclerc with the two Mercedes behind him, Russell on the inside. The Red Bull driver went further onto the run-off than anyone and rejoined between Norris and Hamilton, then let the Ferrari driver past.
Russell’s team mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli also cut across the corner but let him past as he rejoined. But Russell was particularly aggrieved that Verstappen had been allowed to stay ahead of him by braking deeper into the corner and going off.
He said the first corners were “decisive” for the outcome of his race. “I struggle to understand how three drivers can cut the track and just continue with no penalty.
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“In life, if you can risk everything with no consequence, you’ll do this. But it ends up punishing the people who are driving properly.”
Fernando Alonso also complained about drivers cutting the first corners without penalty after seeing Carlos Sainz Jnr and Liam Lawson go off.
Russell’s radio messages after the start
| Lap: 1/71 RUS: 1’28.429 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Russell | Verstappen just cut the corner, braked late and went across the grass. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dudley | Copy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Russell | So at least a penalty or give the position back. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 3/71 RUS: 1’22.822 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Russell | I mean it is ridiculous that the guys just cut the grass and keep the position. No penalty, no nothing. It’s a lasting advantage. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dudley | It has been noted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Russell | Fucking make a change. ‘Noted’ is not good enough. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 6/71 RUS: 1’23.226 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Russell | I don’t even understand how it’s not swap position or penalty here. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Penalty box
Should the stewards have penalised any driver for cutting turn two at the start? Cast your vote below and have your say in the comments.
Should any drivers have been penalised for cutting turn two at the start?
- No driver should have been penalised (9%)
- Lawson should have been penalised (10%)
- Sainz should have been penalised (11%)
- Antonelli should have been penalised (12%)
- Verstappen should have been penalised (31%)
- Leclerc should have been penalised (27%)
Total Voters: 75
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