George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have been given one-place grid penalties for leaving their garages too early during qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Russell will now start Sunday’s race in Sakhir from third behind pole-sitter Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc, with Pierre Gasly in fourth and Antonelli in fifth.
The Mercedes duo were released early in Q2 before the session restarted following Esteban Ocon’s heavy crash at Turn 3.
A statement from the stewards explained: “The team representative, Mr Shovlin, in evidence stated that he gave the instruction for the cars to be released in error having misinterpreted the message posted on page three of the timing screen – ‘estimated restart time’ – to be a message advising the actual restart time.
“He argued that there was no sporting advantage gained in this case as there was sufficient time remaining [11 minutes] for other teams to perform their run plans.
“It was also noted that the team’s sporting director, Mr Meadows, was not present at the event and that normally he would be involved in the release process.
“The FIA single seater sporting director stated that such a move could be a sporting advantage in that it could enable a team to perform its run plan whereas other teams may not be able to.
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Esteban Ocon spun off the track and crashed into the barrier, bringing out the red flag in qualifying
“The stewards agree with this view, particularly where there are only a few minutes remaining in the session.
“The FIA sporting director argued that there needed to be a sporting penalty rather than a team fine, otherwise in future teams would release their cars as soon as the estimated restart time was published. The stewards agree with this view.
“Mr Shovlin argued that it was possible to give a non-sporting penalty if the stewards declared that it was not to be taken as a precedent but also stated that if a sporting penalty was to be given, it should be mitigated.
“The stewards agreed with the view that this breach required a sporting penalty, however accept that the breach was unintentional and a genuine mistake by the team, for which Mr Shovlin apologised.
“We decide to impose a one-position grid penalty.
“A similar breach in different circumstances could entail a more severe sporting penalty in future.”
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Oscar Piastri secured pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix, with George Russell originally second and Charles Leclerc third
Wolff: There’s no precedent for this situation
Prior to the grid penalty announcement, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said there was no precedent for this situation.
“There’s no precedent. It’s a new rule in that sense, and we’re going to see what the stewards say,” Wolff told Sky Sports F1.
“I would hope that it’s not the drivers who are penalised for it. It was a team mistake. We jumped the gun here.”
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Russell said ‘it will be ridiculous’ if Mercedes are given a penalty before the decision was announced
Russell added: “I’ve never even heard of a provisional message before. It’s usually the timing comes up, and as teams you’re always ready and waiting to get that restart time because it’s a rush out of the pits. And as soon as we saw that time, we went for it. And then as soon as we were there, we saw that it said an ‘expected restart time’.
“I mean it was 12 minutes to go in Q2. It would be pretty ridiculous if you get a penalty. But if you get a €20k penalty for being on the toilet, then who knows what the penalty [will be].”
Sky Sports F1’s Bahrain GP schedule
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Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle breaks down the best chances of winning the Bahrain Grand Prix
Sunday April 13
- 10.50am: F3 Feature Race
- 12.20pm: F2 Feature Race
- 2.30pm: Bahrain GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday
- 4pm: THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX
- 6pm: Bahrain GP reaction: Chequered Flag
- 7pm: Ted’s Notebook
Formula 1 continues its triple-header in Sakhir at the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
