George Russell was left seething following the Mexico Grand Prix after several drivers cut across the opening chicane without facing any sanctions. Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen both drove across the grass on the opening lap, but surrendered their positions later in the race.
The Mercedes driver believed the absence of penalties was wrong, though such manoeuvres are not unusual in recent years. Turns one to three offer minimal space for drivers to make overtaking moves, while race stewards chose not to penalize the two aforementioned drivers at the time.
Russell, however, pointed out that Verstappen departed the circuit several laps later. With that, he said the Red Bull driver ought to have faced punishment.
“I think I struggle to understand how three guys can just cut the corner and maintain their position,” Russell told PlanetF1.com. They got it wrong. They braked too late.
“They made a mistake, but then they can just cut the corner and continue and there was no punishment for their mistakes. So I was pretty p* off with that to start with.
“Then where Max came off, went off the track [at] Turn 4, came back on, wrong place wrong time, for me. Again, that should have been penalized, as well.
Lewis Hamilton was the sole driver to face punishment for going off track and received a 10-second time penalty for “leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage” during a tussle with Verstappen. Speaking with Sky Sports, Russell continued: “I think it’s ultimately down to the circuit.
“There is this get-out-of-jail-free card. If there was gravel, no one would be there.
