George Russell escapes punishment for DRS activation at Bahrain GP
13th April 2025George Russell, Mercedes, will keep his second-place finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix after the stewards deemed no sporting advantage was gained.
Feature image credit: Mercedes F1
Following a one-place grid penalty at the Bahrain International Circuit, for the fourth round of the Formula 1 world championship, Russell managed to work his way back to finish runner-up.
However, the Briton suffered problems with his 2025 car as there was an issue with the timing loop, which impacted his use of the DRS flap. As a result, the FIA authorised manual activation of the DRS.
Russell was found to have activated the DRS flap on the straight between turns 10 and 11. It was reported that the flap was opened for 37 metres, which resulted in an advantage of 0.02 seconds.
Realising his error, Russell closed the DRS and gave up 0.28s at the next corner to compensate for the advantage gained.
In the report, the Stewards said:
“The connection between the automated DRS activation system and the car failed due to issues with a timing loop provided by an external party. Therefore the FIA authorised manual activation of the DRS in accordance with Article 22.1 h).
“At the time the driver was experiencing a brake-by-wire issue and other electronic issues. He was at that time advised to use an auxiliary button in the cockpit which serves as a back up radio button but also serves as a manual DRS activation button.
“On the straight between turns 10 and 11 he tried to radio the team using this button but instead accidentally activated the DRS. The DRS was activated for a distance of 37 metres on a straight of approximately 700 metres. Whilst he gained 0.02 seconds, he gave up 0.28 seconds at the next corner to compensate. This was confirmed by telemetry.”
The Stewards confirmed that, whilst there was a breach of the rules, there was no sporting advantage gained and opted not to give Russell a penalty.
Read more Formula 1 here:
- Oscar Piastri controls Bahrain GP victory ahead of George Russell and Lando Norris
- F1 Tyre Strategies: expected two-stop race at Bahrain GP
- F1 Bahrain GP grid positions with penalties applied
- Russell and Antonelli get grid penalty for pit lane breach at Bahrain GP
- F1 Bahrain Grand Prix / Qualifying – Results
- Piastri snatches Bahrain GP F1 pole away from Russell
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
