Former driver highly critical of Red Bull's 'nonsense' protest, rule change suggested

16:29, 18 Jun

Updated: 18:39, 18 Jun

byKada Sarkozi

After the Canadian GP, Red Bull's protest against George Russell was rejected by the stewards. Jolyon Palmer also disagreed with the Austrian's action, and suggests the FIA could prevent similar situations in the future.

On F1 TV, former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer analysed the incident from both drivers' point-of-view, and they said over the team radio.

"This is a pretty non-event really," he began about the incident.

Palmer finds Red Bull Racing's protest total 'nonsense'

According to the Briton, the decision to appeal was 'nonsense' by the Austrian team.

"This is not what Formula One is about. We've had a race, we've had five cars separated by not very much, about five seconds at the end of the Grand Prix. We've had a dramatic moment between the McLarens. We've had a great drive from Russell, a really solid drive from Verstappen."

"What we don't want is an infringement either way of this way to be decided after the race and a Grand Prix that looked like it was going to be Russell's the whole way suddenly be taken away for an absolute bit of nonsense."

Inspired by other sports, Palmer also presents a solution for what he sees as an issue.

"I would like there to be an appeals rule where you can get three challenges in a season and if you don't win your appeal, as Red Bull lost here, you lose one. So you only get three chance to appeal, rather than just throw 2,000 euros at it every time and see what sticks."

Following the Canadian GP, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said Red Bull's appeal was 'pathetic'. The Austrian also added he can't imagine Verstappen being involved in it.

GPblog could later confirm the Dutchman was at peace with finishing in second place, and he wouldn't have protested the incident.

This article was written in collaboration with Cas van de Kleut