George Russell has avoided a penalty and kept his second-place finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix. This follows a post-race investigation into his improper use of the car`s drag reduction system (DRS).
Russell was in second position, following race winner Oscar Piastri, when his car experienced several electronic problems. These included a brake-by-wire issue and problems with the display on his steering wheel.
His car also lost connection with the circuit`s automated DRS activation system. This system is in place to prevent drivers from using DRS outside of designated zones or when they are not within one second of the car ahead.
Knowing about the disconnection from the DRS activation system, Russell`s race engineer instructed him to manually override the system. He was told to activate it if he was within range of the car in front.
He was instructed to use an auxiliary button, which also functions as a backup radio button on the steering wheel. Between Turns 10 and 11, Russell accidentally activated DRS while trying to contact his team via radio. However, he quickly deactivated it and slowed down to compensate for any potential performance gain.
Stewards stated, `The DRS was activated for 37 meters on a straight of approximately 700 meters. Although he gained 0.02 seconds, he then gave up 0.28 seconds at the following corner to make up for it. Telemetry confirmed this.`
`Therefore, while a technical breach occurred, the Stewards have decided that as no sporting advantage was gained, no penalty will be applied.`
Russell mentioned he was managing several issues in the race`s closing stages as McLaren`s Lando Norris approached and attempted to overtake.
`Yes, it was incredibly challenging towards the end,` Russell said. `I had numerous problems with the car.`
`My steering wheel was losing data, and the brake pedal malfunctioned, requiring resets. At times the brakes worked correctly, and then they didn`t. So, I was relieved to see the checkered flag.`
`I`m not sure exactly what happened with the DRS. It was related to all the failures we were experiencing.`
`As soon as I saw it activate, I backed off, losing two-tenths of a second.`
`It didn`t happen again. I didn`t actually press the DRS button – I pressed another button, and it opened. As I said, I lost more than I gained; I doubt I gained anything as it was only open for less than a second.`
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff commended Russell`s performance despite the multiple issues. He emphasized the difficulty of driving without a fully functional brake-by-wire system, which controls the rear brakes.
`We suddenly had a break-by-wire failure, and it took some time to find the settings and reset it, but we managed it,` Wolff stated.
`And honestly, his management of the system, while being chased by Norris, was an unbelievable drive.`
`His performance today secured this podium for us. Also, using the soft tires for such an extended period was excellent, balancing management and attacking when necessary.`
`If you haven`t driven a race car with or without BBW, it`s similar to power-assisted steering in a road car. Imagine adjusting between having it in one corner and not in the next. It demands exceptional skill.`
`So, there was the break-by-wire issue, loss of GPS, and loss of onboard DRS. Everything. And on the dash display, we didn`t have all the expected information, and we were concerned about losing the entire dash, which would mean losing all button and switch control over settings.`
Rupert Caldwell 
Tristan Blackwood