Mercedes pulls appeal on George Russell's Monaco Grand Prix penalty

Mercedes announced on 19 June 2026 that it had withdrawn its request for a right‑of‑review against the pit‑lane speeding penalty imposed on driver George Russell during the Monaco Grand Prix. The team concluded that further pursuit was unlikely to succeed and would not benefit the sport, ending its challenge shortly before a scheduled FIA hearing on 20 June.

The penalty arose from an incorrectly measured pit‑lane speed limit, an issue also highlighted when Alpine successfully appealed Pierre Gasly’s similar penalty, resulting in Gasly’s time penalty being rescinded and his third‑place finish restored. The inconsistency prompted McLaren and Red Bull to continue appealing the stewards’ decision to reinstate Gasly. Russell’s penalty dropped him from a potential podium to a 12th‑place finish with no points, while his teammate Kimi Antonelli won the race.

Mercedes’ withdrawal underscores ongoing concerns about the enforcement of speed limits in Formula 1 and the limited recourse teams have through the FIA’s review process.