Red Bull's protest against George Russell fails again as Mercedes clinch first win of the season in Canada

Formula One stewards rejected Red Bull's protest of George Russell's Canadian Grand Prix victory as Mercedes celebrated their first win of the 2025 season on Sunday. Also, 18-year-old rookie Kimi Antonelli doubled Mercedes delight by coming third.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who had hoped to win for a record fourth year in a row at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, had to settle for second after a challenge fizzed out behind the safety car.

Driver championship leader Oscar Piastri of McLaren, meanwhile, finished fourth and stretched his lead to 22 points after teammate Lando Norris smashed into him and retired. Piastri now has 198 points ahead of Norris on 176, with Verstappen on 155 with Russell on 136.

In the constructors' standings, Mercedes moved up to second, ahead of Ferrari and 175 points behind McLaren.

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"Well done team. That made up for last year," said Russell, who also started on pole in 2024 but finished third. His last win before Sunday was in Las Vegas in November.

"It's amazing to be back on the top step. I felt last year was a victory lost and probably got the victory today due to the incredible pole lap yesterday."

Red Bull fail again in protest against Russell

Russell, however, had his victory questioned by Red Bull, who argued that the Mercedes driver breached the rules by driving erratically when the safety car was deployed in the final laps of the race and also showed unsportsmanlike conduct.

The stewards said in a lengthy statement issued five and a half hours after the end of the race that the protest was not founded.

While Russell and Verstappen are not friends and have clashed on the track, notably in Spain two weeks ago when Red Bull's four-time world champion was heavily punished, Horner said it was not personal.

Red Bull have however protested twice in the space of five races now, both times against Russell.

In Miami in May they protested the Briton's third place, arguing the driver had failed to slow when yellow flags were waved during a virtual safety car period. Verstappen was fourth that time.

Stewards also rejected that protest.

With agency inputs