Importance Score: 65 / 100 🔴
Grid Penalties for Russell and Antonelli at Bahrain Grand Prix After Mercedes Breach
Bahrain –
Mercedes Formula 1 drivers George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli have each received a one-position grid penalty for the Bahrain Grand Prix following a stewards’ inquiry into a qualifying infraction. The Silver Arrows team initially celebrated a strong qualifying session at the Sakhir circuit, highlighted by Russell securing second place behind pole-sitter Oscar Piastri, and Antonelli achieving a career-best fourth position on the grid.
Mercedes Regulation Breach
However, their qualifying results came under scrutiny when Mercedes representatives were summoned by race stewards to address a potential breach of sporting regulations. The issue arose after Esteban Ocon’s Q2 incident, which triggered a red flag period. Mercedes was found to have released their cars prematurely into the pit exit queue, an action noticed by race officials and the Sauber team, specifically Nico Hulkenberg in their garage.
Stewards’ Decision and Explanation
Following deliberations with team personnel, the stewards imposed one-place grid drops on both drivers. According to the official report, “The team representative, Mr. Shovlin, testified that he mistakenly instructed the cars to depart, misinterpreting the ‘estimated re-start time’ displayed on page three of the Timing Screen as the definitive re-start time confirmation,” the stewards articulated in their findings.
“He contended that no competitive advantage was gained from this error, as ample time (11 minutes) remained in the session for all teams to execute their planned runs.”
FIA Sporting Director’s Perspective
The stewards further noted the absence of the team’s Sporting Director, Mr. Meadows, who typically oversees the car release procedure. The FIA Single Seater Sporting Director argued that initiating car release based on estimated restart times could indeed confer a sporting advantage, potentially enabling a team to complete its intended program while others might miss the opportunity.
“The Stewards concur with this assessment, particularly when session time is limited,” the report continued. “The FIA Sporting Director maintained that a sporting penalty, as opposed to a financial penalty, was necessary to deter teams from prematurely releasing cars upon the publication of estimated restart times. The Stewards are in agreement with this viewpoint.”
Grid Repercussions
These penalties for Russell and Antonelli have subsequent effects on the starting grid lineup for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Russell will now commence the race from third position, having been demoted from second, thereby elevating Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to the front row alongside Piastri.
Antonelli, while still retaining his best-ever F1 qualifying result, will now start from fifth, dropping from fourth. This promotes Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, who delivered a noteworthy performance in Saturday’s qualifying, to the fourth grid slot.