Christian Horner has revealed that his team warned the FIA of potential gamesmanship from rivals in Canada.

Following his clash with George Russell in Spain, Max Verstappen went to Montreal knowing that he was just one point shy of an automatic race ban.

Strong in all three practice sessions, the Dutchman snatched pole from Oscar Piastri on Saturday by 0.061s, only to have Russell go 0.160s quicker.

In the trackside interviews, when asked about a potential clash with the Dutchman as they battled for the first corner, the Mercedes driver laughed: "I've got a few more points on my license to play with. So, yeah, let's see."

However, even before Russell's comment, Red Bull had approached race director Rui Marques calling on him to look out for any attempt by rivals to goad Verstappen.

"I think that it was inevitable that there was going to be some potential gamesmanship," said Horner. "It's something that we raised after the driver's briefing with the race director, just so that they were mindful of it as well, because it was clear that that kind of stuff goes on.

"We just said to him, look, could they please keep an eye on it because there's been, obviously, comments have been raised in the media'."

While the start was without incident, it was at the end of the race that Red Bull felt Russell was playing games.

Under the Safety Car, Russell braked on the back straight causing Verstappen to overtake him, the Briton immediately advising his team over the radio.

However, at the same time the Dutchman was telling his engineer Gianpiero Lambiase that Russell was driving erratically and was also outside the mandated 10 car lengths behind the Safety Car.

At race end Red Bull issued a formal protest which was thrown out five and a half hours later.

Insisting that Russell was "obviously looking in his mirror for Max", asked if he really believed Russell was seeking to force Verstappen's hand, Horner said: "I think you could hear from George's press comments yesterday, you know, his objective was reasonably clear.

"So I don't think there was any surprises with that."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Agile, 26/06/2025 16:45

"So Verstappen needs protecting from gamesmanship including mind games what a childish champion our sport HAS."

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2. Posted by kenji, 22/06/2025 3:24

"They, Mercedes, are as devious as any other team when it comes to trying to gain a competitive edge. They will exploit the rules and regs to the Nth degree just like the other nine teams. Russel's attitude carries a degree of what according to some is a certain arrogance. The only thing missing are the goggles, leather helmet and fir lined flying jacket...and of course a Gypsy Moth warmed up, ready and waiting at a blustery Northamptonshire airfield....."

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3. Posted by jcr, 20/06/2025 19:39

"Dan Tickton got it right when he said George likes to be the nice guy image !!
Seems to be a Mercedes requirement !!´
We had it from Lewis for too many years !"

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4. Posted by Spindoctor, 19/06/2025 9:03

"@kenji
I'd admit to a certain antipathy to RBR, but I I've found most of the tit-for-tat, back & forth between all team Principals pretty silly.
In this specific instance I was criticising Max's childish resort to asking his boss to tell 'teacher' that a fellow child was misbehaving. More generally, I was also trying to express my distaste of the whole business of plaintive radio messages: 'He pushed me off', 'He hit me' 'I don't like his haircut' &c. messages by all\any drivers.
Stewards, viewers, commentators are all equipped with various visual sensory input devices including plain old human eyes. I think its fair to say that misdemeanours are rapidly seen, videoed & recorded before the unfortunate 'victims' can even press the Transmit button."

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5. Posted by kenji, 19/06/2025 1:54

"@Spindoctor..Despite Wolff's lofty moraL outlook have you considered what your reaction would be if the roles of Mercedes and Red Bull were reversed? "

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6. Posted by Spindoctor, 18/06/2025 15:06

"Verstappen does the now compulsory cry-baby "please sir he's being naughty" radio comment then Horner attempts to limbo *under* the nadir of childish gamesmanship with a ludicrous protest.
As someone not that keen on VMax I'm often told he 'does his talking on the track'. Literally true, but recently it's been won the radio while being beaten by other drivers."

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7. Posted by Keep_it_on_track, 17/06/2025 15:31

"Much like in politics at the moment, the ones doing the complaining reveal more about what they are prepared to do than the opposition. Fairly clear from Horner’s comments that e.g. he considers his driver only looks in the mirror when he’s engaging in gamesmanship, and that brake-testing and gaming penalty points are things he expects his drivers to do. A shame there are no penalties for teams putting in spurious, unsportsmanlike and unjustified protests."

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8. Posted by KKK, 17/06/2025 15:21

"You dont like it when its you under the microscope. Suck it up mate !"

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9. Posted by VC10-1103, 17/06/2025 12:53

"Wouldn’t it be natural to look in your mirrors before applying the brakes in a train of cars? If you don’t you run the risk of being rammed and taken out of the race. Not what you want when leading a race."

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10. Posted by Burton, 17/06/2025 12:44

"After AD21, the cap breach, and on consecutive races one driver deliberately ramming someone and the other commit a blatant red flag offence and getting away with slaps on the wrist, you'd think this lot would have the sense to NOT let anyone they're still up these type of antics..."

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11. Posted by JamesD, 17/06/2025 12:01

"Oh do be quiet Christian, no everyone is a sneaky so and so like yourself"

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Red Bull feared Russell gamesmanship

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