Mercedes exploring legal options over Russell’s Monaco GP penalty – Wolff | Formula 1

Mercedes is in discussion with its lawyers over George Russell’s Monaco Grand Prix penalty in light of the stewards’ decision regarding Pierre Gasly today.

Russell and Gasly were both issued five-second time penalties for pit lane speeding during the race, as were three other drivers. However Gasly’s Alpine team successfully overturned his penalty today.

The stewards accepted Gasly’s penalty was incorrect because the timekeepers failed to measure the pit lane length correctly. This cast doubt on whether any of speeding penalties issued in Monaco were correct. But as only Gasly served his after the race, only his could be rescinded.

The situation was complicated further for Russell because, unlike Gasly, he stopped in his pit box again after his first penalty was issued. He was therefore required to serve his penalty at that point, but failed to, and was issued a drive-through penalty.

While Russell’s subsequent penalty dropped him out of the points, the cancellation of Gasly’s two penalties restored him to third place. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff indicated he believes Russell could have finished there without his penalty, but said he is doubtful of their chances of success.

“I think talk is definitely going forward, but we also need to look at it,” he said in the FIA press conference before second practice at the Circuit de Catalunya. “I just left when we were on the phone with our lawyers to look at what can we do for George.

“A drive-through, if it didn’t happen at the end, is equivalent of 20 seconds of race time. What would 20 seconds race time have meant for his result?

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“Do we think that we realistically have a position, a chance of reverting the result? I don’t think so.

“But we definitely have to give it a go if we see that there is a millimetre of chance to do so and bring him back to whatever it was – P4 [or] P3.”

Mercedes had told Russell not to pit a second time but the situation was confused when drivers were suddenly told to drive through the pit lane during a Safety Car period. Russell saw a set of tyres waiting at the Mercedes pit box and pulled in.

“It was a very unfortunate situation,” said Wolff. “Clearly we can all learn from that because that wasn’t something that just came up on Sunday, that suddenly 10 cars were in breach of pit lane speeding. It’s something that was flagged before.

“For us as a team, and especially for George, it has massive implications. He had a difficult qualifying session, but he moved all the way back up there, and clearly without the penalty, without us not serving it correctly, it would have been a totally different outcome for his race.

“Whether he would have made the podium or just not is a different question, but a different outcome would have had an impact on his championship situation. And that’s why it’s unfortunate.”

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McLaren and Red Bull, who both lost points due to the cancellation of Gasly’s penalties, have notified the FIA of their intention to appeal. Mercedes sent no representative to the Gasly hearing, and Wolff said they will not appeal, but are considering their options regarding Russell’s penalty.

“We are assessing, as we speak, what the Gasly situation does for George. Obviously there are certain timing restraints. We wouldn’t appeal the Gasly result, certainly, but we would like the FIA to look at what could be the remedies for George’s race.

“I think we are having some timing limitations and some other legal constraints, but definitely we have a reason to be annoyed. And I wish we could have had those conversations before the race on Sunday.”

2026 Monaco Grand Prix

• Mercedes exploring legal options over Russell’s Monaco GP penalty – Wolff
• Official: McLaren and Red Bull to appeal overturning of Gasly’s Monaco GP penalties
• Updated championship standings after Gasly regains Monaco podium finish
• Gasly promoted to third place in Monaco GP as stewards strike out penalties
• Alpine succeed in first stage of Right of Review request over Gasly’s penalties

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