Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have each been dropped one spot from their quali place after getting into the quick lane too rapidly.
The session was red-flagged after Esteban Ocon’s crash however the Mercedes duo emerged from their storage earlier than they had been allowed to.
Mercedes hit with double punishment after FIA Bahrain GP qualifying investigation
Russell had certified on the entrance row alongside Oscar Piastri however will now be immediately behind the Australian with Charles Leclerc transferring as much as P2.
Antonelli, in the meantime, drops behind Pierre Gasly and into fifth.
Following the purple flag for Ocon’s crash in Q2, Russell and Antonelli had been despatched to the top of the pit lane earlier than the FIA communicated an official restart time.
The breach was instantly noticed by Nico Hulkenberg, the Sauber driver, who described Mercedes’ transfer as “dodgy.”
The stewards have now confirmed that each drivers had been at fault following a gathering with trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin.
They stated: “The Stewards heard from the group consultant, the Race Director and FIA Single Seater Sporting Director and reviewed video, timing, group radio and in-car video proof. The drivers had been excused from attending.
“The group consultant, Mr Shovlin, in proof acknowledged that he gave the instruction for the automobiles to be launched, in error, having misinterpreted the message posted on web page 3 of the Timing Display screen, “estimated re-start time” to be a message advising the precise re-start time. He argued that there was no sporting benefit gained on this case as there was ample time remaining (11 minutes) for different groups to carry out their run plans.
“It was additionally famous that the group’s Sporting Director, Mr [Ron] Meadows, was not current on the occasion and that usually he can be concerned within the launch course of.
“The FIA Single Seater Sporting Director [Tim Malyon] acknowledged that such a transfer may very well be a sporting benefit in that it may allow a group to carry out its run plan whereas different groups might not have the ability to.
“The Stewards agree with this view significantly the place there are just a few minutes
remaining within the session.
George Russell vs Andrea Kimi Antonelli: Mercedes head-to-head scores for F1 2025
👉 F1 2025: Head-to-head qualifying statistics between team-mates
👉 F1 2025: Head-to-head race statistics between team-mates
“The FIA Sporting Director argued that there wanted to be a sporting penalty slightly
than a group wonderful, in any other case in future groups would launch their automobiles as quickly because the estimated re-start time was revealed. The Stewards agree with this view.
“Mr Shovlin argued that it was potential to offer a non-sporting penalty if the Stewards
declared that it was to not be taken as a precedent but in addition acknowledged that if a sporting
penalty was to be given, it ought to be mitigated.
“The Stewards agreed with the view that this breach required a sporting penalty
nonetheless settle for that the breach was unintentional and a real mistake by the group
“The Stewards for which Mr Shovlin apologised. We resolve to impose a one place grid penalty. An identical breach in several circumstances, may entail a extra extreme sporting penalty, in future.
Extra on George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli
👉 George Russell information
👉 Andrea Kimi Antonelli information
Talking forward of his drivers’ go to to the stewards, Mercedes group boss Toto Wolff aired his hope that Russell and Antonelli would escape punishment, insisting the group had been at fault for sending their drivers to the top of the pit lane too quickly.
He stated: “There’s no precedent [for this incident]. It’s a brand new rule in that sense and we’re going to see what the stewards say.”
Requested if he expects a wonderful or a reprimand as a substitute of a sporting sanction, he replied: “I’d hope that it’s not the drivers who’re penalised.
“It was a group mistake. We jumped the gun right here and it was in Q2, [not] in Q3.”
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