Browse
Log in / Register
Share
Mercedes believes Andrea Kimi Antonelli was particularly unlucky to receive a three-place grid penalty for failing to slow sufficiently under yellow flags during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix. The team’s deputy technical director, Simone Resta, has provided new insight into why the stewards’ comparison was misleading, raising questions about the consistency of F1’s penalty system.
The incident occurred late in Q3 when a single yellow flag was waved at Turn 5 after a spin by Kevin Magnussen. Antonelli lifted the throttle 16 meters earlier than usual and reduced his speed by 14 kph, then abandoned his flying lap. The stewards noted his time through the mini-sector containing the yellow flag dropped by only 0.03 seconds compared to his personal best in that sector, which they deemed insufficient.
However, Resta explained in a team video released Thursday that the “benchmark lap” used by the stewards was not an ideal representation of Antonelli’s true pace. “In that particular sector, the reference wasn’t representative of Kimi’s true pace,” Resta said. “That made the situation more difficult because even after lifting, he was effectively being compared against a slower-than-optimal sector.”
According to Resta, the reference lap was from a previous run where Antonelli had already lost time in that sector for other reasons, not his genuine fastest. “If you compare the sector to FP3, when the car was heavier on fuel and therefore naturally slower, he was still quicker despite lifting,” Resta noted. “In some ways it was a perfect storm. He did react, but because of the reference lap being used, the reduction wasn’t enough to satisfy the requirement.”
The FIA’s International Sporting Code requires drivers to “significantly reduce speed” under single yellow flags, but does not define a specific percentage or time threshold. Stewards typically examine the driver’s throttle and brake traces, as well as sector time comparisons. In this case, the stewards accepted Antonelli had lifted earlier and reduced speed, but ruled the 0.03-second gain was insufficient.
Mercedes’ argument has drawn parallels to a similar situation in Austria earlier this season, where both George Russell and Antonelli encountered single yellow flags in the final minutes of qualifying. Russell lifted the throttle briefly, then resumed his lap and took pole position—an action that went unpenalized. Antonelli, by contrast, slowed significantly and aborted his lap. The inconsistency has frustrated the team.
“Kimi did exactly what you’d expect: he backed off, but tried to keep the lap going because he was on a fast run,” said Resta. “The comparison just didn’t reflect his real speed. When you’re already at the limit, any lift is costly. The fact that he still lost time shows he reacted.”
The penalty dropped Antonelli from his original fourth-place grid slot to seventh, significantly impacting his Sunday race. He finished sixth, while teammate Russell took third. The controversial decision has once again reignited debate over the FIA’s yellow flag policing methods, especially in the high-stakes environment of qualifying.
Mercedes has not formally appealed the penalty, but Resta’s comments suggest the team is pushing for a more transparent and consistent evaluation process. “We understand the need for safety, but the application of the rules must be fair and based on realistic data,” he said. “We hope the stewards will review how they select the reference lap in future cases.”
The incident comes amid a broader set of grid penalties for several drivers in Hungary. In addition to Antonelli, Yuki Tsunoda and Nico Hülkenberg also received drops for impeding during qualifying. While those penalties were uncontroversial, Antonelli’s case has drawn extra scrutiny because of the subjective nature of the comparison.
F1’s new race director, Rui Marques, has been tasked with improving consistency in stewarding decisions. The Antonelli case may serve as a test case for how the FIA handles borderline yellow flag infringements going forward. For now, Mercedes is left to lament what it sees as a flawed process that cost their rookie driver a strong starting position.
“It’s a shame because Kimi was driving brilliantly all weekend,” Resta concluded. “He’s learning fast, and he took the right action. The penalty just didn’t match the reality of what happened on track.”
