Red Bull lodges protest against Canadian GP winner Russell

The Red Bull Formula 1 team has submitted a protest against Canadian Grand Prix winner George Russell.

Russell beat Max Verstappen to win in Montreal in a race that finished under safety conditions following a late clash between McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

During that safety car there was an unusual moment where Verstappen briefly overtook Russell as the Mercedes driver slowed down.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said Russell had been protested for both "erratic driving behind the safety car where George very heavily braked, obviously looking in his mirror for Max" and for exceeding the permitted distance behind the safety car.

Verstappen flagged the issue, saying Russell had slowed suddenly, and his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase said they would check for erratic driving.

Lambiase later warned Verstappen: "That incident with Russell now being shown on the feeds, Max, it's pretty blatant. Just don't fall for the gamesmanship, OK? Thank you."

That was interpreted as an implication Russell may be trying to catch Verstappen out and force him into an offence, with Verstappen one licence penalty point away from a ban.

But Verstappen had seemingly played it down.

"I think we were both trying to say to the safety car to speed up because he was only going 120km/h [75mph] but I think maybe the safety car is doing that to give a bit more time to maybe get a race lap in," said Verstappen.

"Then I think George was trying to speed up to the safety car, I was trying to do the same. 

"Once he tried to speed up the safety car he then backed out and it caused a bit of confusion."

Russell, Verstappen and representatives from both teams have been summoned to the stewards for a hearing that was due to start at 17:50 local time.