Why Kimi Antonelli Avoided a Singapore GP Track Limits Penalty
- Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli avoided a standard five-second time penalty at the Singapore Grand Prix despite accumulating four track limits violations during the race, because Mercedes successfully...
- Two of those violations occurred at Turn 2, one at the final Turn 19 left-hander, and a fourth on his outlap during a virtual safety car restart at...
- Under standard FIA rules, reaching that threshold normally triggers a five-second time penalty.
Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli avoided a standard five-second time penalty at the Singapore Grand Prix despite accumulating four track limits violations during the race, because Mercedes successfully challenged one of the decisions with stewards, according to reporting by The Race.
Why did Kimi Antonelli avoid a five-second penalty in Singapore?
Two of those violations occurred at Turn 2, one at the final Turn 19 left-hander, and a fourth on his outlap during a virtual safety car restart at the Turn 7 left-hander.
Under standard FIA rules, reaching that threshold normally triggers a five-second time penalty. However, Viaplay F1 commentator Nelson Valkenburg explained on The Race F1 Podcast that Mercedes intervened.
I had a discussion with the FIA about the fact that he had a warning and then he had another strike; he should have had a five-second penalty. He triggered one, but they reviewed it, and then they saw that he didn’t. Mercedes asked for a review in that one.Nelson Valkenburg, Viaplay F1 Podcast
Valkenburg added that a braking issue Antonelli experienced after his pit stop might have also factored into the stewards’ review.
What caused Antonelli to run wide at Turn 7?
Antonelli pointed to technical and thermal troubles for his final off-track excursion during the virtual safety car restart. He stated that when he went to brake at Turn 7, nothing happened, nearly putting his car into the wall.
The rookie driver explained that running three-quarters of the race in dirty air in hot conditions created severe brake heat. He noted that a sensor issue meant the team lacked precise data regarding brake temperatures, forcing him to rely entirely on feel.
How did Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff and race engineer Peter Bonington handle the infractions?
Race engineer Peter Bonington repeatedly warned Antonelli over the team radio during the race, at one point urgently repeating track limits alerts. On the cool-down lap after Antonelli secured a podium finish, Toto Wolff referenced the persistent infractions on the team radio.
Wolff later joked with reporters about the rookie’s seating position.
He kept his cool other than a few of the track limits…I have a good strategy, I’m going to put a pillow from the hotel under his butt so he can actually see the road because I think it’s like this, he can’t see it.Toto Wolff
Wolff also noted that having three strikes halfway through the race demonstrates how hard the young driver pushes the limit.
Does Antonelli have an ongoing track limits issue?
Antonelli has accumulated more track limits deletions in races this season than any other driver on the grid. Discussing the trend on The Race F1 Podcast, journalist Scott Mitchell-Malm suggested that the driver may be intentionally using warnings to find the absolute grip threshold before pulling back.
Mitchell-Malm noted that while it represents an unnecessary risk, Antonelli’s pace in the final stint remained strong despite the threat of a penalty. Valkenburg added that as the driver matures, the strict tone required from engineers will naturally decrease.
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