Mercedes penalized for George Russell neglecting F1 Mexico GP media obligations.

“The stewards were informed by the team representative that the driver had departed the circuit without participating in the post-race media commitments,” stated the FIA report.

“Recognizing that the stewards can issue a ruling in the event of non-attendance at a hearing, a penalty of €5,000 is assigned to the competitor.”

Mercedes was found in violation of Article B10.1.4e of the regulations, with stewards noting that “the driver did not attend the hearing, and the team representative provided evidence via telephone.”

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes

However, it later came to light that Silver Arrows team principal Toto Wolff had granted Russell permission to leave the venue early after what had been a challenging day for the pre-season championship contender.

“I saw George after the race on the FIA scales, and clearly, he’s upset about the situation,” Wolff remarked.

“It was commendable sportsmanship for him to go and congratulate Kimi. I've known George for a long time.

“He's experiencing a tough period, but he was also instrumental in bringing the young man into this team. So I met with him, and for a racing driver, this is a devastating moment.

“Perhaps the race mirrored his season. This was a race he aimed to win. We had the potential in the car, but we let him down at the first straight.

“The energy delivery was not what we anticipated. I'm very much supportive of him right now. I've been in situations that are extremely challenging to navigate.

“His choice to skip the media duties or leave the track is completely understandable. If he had stayed, it would have genuinely surprised me. That's absolutely commendable.”