Horner explains why Red Bull filed a protest against Mercedes

07:15, 05 May

byNorberto Mujica

Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner has clarified why they logded a protest against Mercedes driver, George Russell.

Horner explains that Red Bull's protest is based on GPS data: "As you've probably seen we've registered a protest with the FIA regarding George Russell who from the GPS that we can see quite clearly, whilst it lifts, did not reduce speed. So the regulation is quite explicitly clear that there has to be a reduction in speed. So the car has kept accelerating, just at a slower rate than it would normally. There's not an actual reduction in speed."

"We're not reporting or suggesting that there's anything illegal on the car. We felt that George Russell has done something that is in breach of the regs, is the way that they're written. So that's why we put a protest in today to say, more than anything, we want clarity. The regulations say there should be a reduction in speed. It doesn't talk about a lift, it doesn't talk about time off the track, it talks about a reduction in speed."

This is why Red Bull filed the protest

After Verstappen reported Russell for nor reducing his speed under the yellow flags, Red Bull's pitwall urged the Dutchman to stay within five seconds of the Mercedes driver, which he did.

Should Russell be found in breach of the regulations, then he would be handed a 5 seconds time penalty which would alter the results of the Miami Grand Prix, demoting Russell to P4 and promoting Verstappen to the last podium place.