RacingNews365 has shared that F1 stewards hit Kimi Antonelli with a five-second time penalty following an unsafe release during the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
- Antonelli’s post-race sanction leaves his 5th-place finish intact due to his 20.4s buffer over Oscar Piastri.
- Charles Leclerc drops to eighth in the race classification after picking up his own five-second penalty for a late-race collision with Liam Lawson.
- Oliver Bearman retains 17th position despite receiving a matching five-second penalty for an unsafe pit lane release involving Leclerc.
As competitors flooded the pit lane near the end of the race to swap for intermediate tyres, Mercedes released Antonelli directly into the path of Franco Colapinto of Alpine, forcing the latter to take evasive action.
Despite this, Antonelli secured fifth place at the finish line while George Russell grabbed fourth, helping Mercedes lock down the constructors’ championship. Even with the standard five-second unsafe release penalty applied—reducing his advantage over sixth-placed Piastri from 20.4s down to 15.4s—Antonelli crossed the finish line far enough ahead to keep his position without losing any places.
Formula1.com reported that Charles Leclerc and Kimi Antonelli were hit with separate five-second time penalties, with Leclerc held responsible for causing a collision with Liam Lawson over the final laps. Seeking to bounce back from a terrible start to the race at Interlagos, Leclerc steadily narrowed the gap to the Racing Bulls competitor as the rain grew heavier.
As their intense duel unfolded, the Monegasque driver bumped the rear left wheel of Lawson’s vehicle at Turn 12 before sweeping around the outside to pass the New Zealander on the second-to-last lap.
The stewards concluded that the collision warranted a time penalty for Leclerc, and because Lawson finished less than two seconds behind him, the two drivers traded positions in the official results, dropping Leclerc to eighth.
Formula1.com noted the official verdict stating that Car 16 made contact with Car 30 at turn 12. The stewards concluded that while the contact was minor, Leclerc was able to get closer to and thereafter overtake Lawson because of it, creating an obvious sporting consequence.
Formula1.com detailed Antonelli’s penalty explanation, noting that the stewards determined Car 12 was released in an unsafe manner when Car 43 was approaching in the fast lane.
While Antonelli was entitled to travel down the pit lane in parallel to cars in the fast lane, he momentarily lost control on the slippery surface and had to take steps to avoid a collision. The team acknowledged that this release could have been handled better and in a safer manner.
In a similar incident, Haas driver Ollie Bearman picked up a five-second sanction for an unsafe release on Charles Leclerc, but it did not change his 17th-place finishing position, according to RacingNews365. Formula1.com added that Bearman was released from his pit stop into the path of Leclerc, resulting in a missed opportunity for points after he started from a career-best sixth on the grid.
| Driver | Team | Penalty | Original Position | Final Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 5-second time penalty | P5 | P5 |
| Oliver Bearman | Haas | 5-second time penalty | P17 | P17 |
Disclaimer: The fantasy and market insights provided are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial or betting advice.
