Russell fears 'ridiculous' FIA penalty: 'Stranger things have happened'

George Russell believes it would be "ridiculous" if Mercedes was punished for an unusual incident during qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Earlier in the second session at the Bahrain International Circuit, Haas driver Esteban Ocon was involved in a heavy shunt which led to qualifying being red-flagged.

Following a lengthy delay, Russell and team-mate Kimi Antonelli left the garage and lined up at the end of the pit lane to get on with the session as quickly as possible.

However, the FIA soon placed the drivers under investigation for leaving the garage before the Q2 resumption time was announced.

Explaining what unfolded, speaking to Viaplay, Russell said: "There was a message on the screen that said, 'Expected restart time', which is a very unusual message.

"Normally it is, 'The restart time is...' whatever. As soon as we saw this message, we went, because normally it's a race [to get to the end of the pit lane].

"And as soon as we went we realised it was an expected restart, not the restart. So I mean, you know, it's Q2, run one.

"It would be pretty ridiculous to be penalised for this. But then again, there are stranger things that happen in this sport.

"If you get a 20,000 euro fine because you're on the toilet, who knows."

The final comment was a pointed reference to the fact Williams driver Carlos Sainz was fined that amount after being late for the start of the national anthem ceremony ahead of last Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix as he required an emergency trip to the toilet.

That was despite the fact Sainz was suffering from a stomach complaint, confirmed by the FIA doctor.