Mercedes fined €5,000 after Russell misses post-race media duties in Mexico

Mercedes has been fined €5,000 after George Russell left the Mexican Grand Prix without completing his mandatory post-race media duties. The FIA stewards confirmed the penalty after a weekend in which Kimi Antonelli clinched the title and Russell’s championship hopes officially ended.

Why it matters:

• The sanction underlines how strictly the FIA treats post-race media obligations.
• For Mercedes, it adds to a costly Sunday after Russell had already received a 10-second penalty.

The details:

• Antonelli needed only P9 to seal the title; he finished third and became F1’s youngest world champion.
• Russell finished sixth and was summoned over an alleged failure to attend his required post-race commitments.
• Mercedes told media Russell would not attend the media pen and gave no reason. The FIA confirmed no dispensation had been granted.
• With Russell already gone, stewards heard from the team representative and fined the competitor €5,000.
• Earlier, Russell got a 10-second penalty for colliding with Isack Hadjar at Turn 6. Stewards ruled he had not established the right to the corner.

What’s next:

The fine closes the media-duty case, but it reinforces the scrutiny on drivers away from the cockpit. Russell will aim to reset after a weekend that cost him championship ground and added penalties.