George Russell gets out of the Japanese Grand Prix without a penalty, although the stewards had investigated an action against Oscar Piastri
“Bananas” – meaning “crazy” – is how Mercedes Head of Motorsport Toto Wolff described the fact that George Russell had to answer to the stewards after his duel with Oscar Piastri at the 2024 Formula 1 race in Japan
The accusation: The Mercedes driver allegedly pushed his opponent off the track in the chicane on lap 49 of 53. Russell had attacked Piastri on the inside lane, whereupon the latter cut the chicane and got back in front of the Mercedes. The stewards investigated the scene but found no infringement of the rules.
As a result, Russell remains without a penalty and retains his seventh place and the six points from Suzuka. Piastri in the McLaren finished eighth behind Russell after the latter had passed him.
According to the stewards, they had “a number of difficulties” in assessing the incident. However, they accepted six facts, which they listed in their reasoning.
1) Russell’s maneuver was not a “divebomb” and he was in control of his car at the entrance to turn 16.
2. Russell’s front axle was level with Piastri’s rear view mirrors at the corner entry, so he had to be given space.
(3) Russell hopped over the inside kerb and then collided with Piastri, which can be proven from photographic evidence.
(4) Piastri sensed the contact with Russell and cut the chicane to avoid further contact with potentially greater consequences.
5) Russell left enough space at the exit of turn 16 so that Piastri could have re-entered the track before the next turn.
6. Piastri skipped the chicane and returned safely to the track ahead of Russell.
“However, the driving standards say nothing about what action is required of a driver who leaves the track to avoid a collision or who is forced off the track, rejoins the track safely and retains his position,” the stewards continued.
LAP 50/53
… but it’s not going to be easy!
Russell dives to the inside of Piastri at the chicane, they take avoiding action and then the McLaren defends hard into T1 F1 JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/1DxIdHO3Bb
– Formula 1 (@F1) April 7, 2024
In addition, both drivers and team representatives agreed that the incident did not warrant a penalty. However, the commissioners emphasized that this was “not a decisive point”. Nevertheless, the verdict was: no penalty!
In the end, both drivers can live with the decision: “It was good, hard racing,” says Russell. “There was a contact with Oscar, but it was a racing incident. But I was happy that I was able to take the place at the end.”
And Piastri has also put the issue behind him: “That was a racing incident, and in the end he finished ahead of me anyway. That was all right,” said the Australian.
“I made a mistake at the end and he got past. It’s disappointing that I lost the place at the very end, but in general I had a few problems today. “
