FIA Hands Double Grid Penalty to Mercedes Duo After Bahrain GP Qualifying Misjudgment
Mercedes has found itself in hot water after both of its drivers were penalized for a procedural error during qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Following an investigation by the FIA, George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli have each received a one-place grid drop due to an infraction that occurred during the red flag period in Q2.
The incident unfolded during Saturday’s qualifying session when a serious crash involving Esteban Ocon brought out a red flag. As standard protocol dictates, cars are not allowed to exit the garage until the official restart time has been communicated by race control. However, the Mercedes team prematurely released both of their drivers onto the track based on an estimated time displayed on the timing screen, rather than waiting for the confirmed restart notification.
After conducting a thorough investigation, the FIA announced that Mercedes had breached the race director’s instructions. The stewards reviewed various forms of evidence, including team radio communications, onboard footage, and timing data. While the drivers themselves were not required to appear before the stewards, team representative Andrew Shovlin was present to explain the situation.
According to the official statement released by the FIA, Shovlin admitted that he mistakenly interpreted the “estimated restart time” on the timing screen as the official signal to release the cars. He clarified that this was an honest error and that the team believed there was no competitive advantage gained, since over 11 minutes remained in the session. He further explained that the team’s usual sporting director, Ron Meadows, was not present at the Bahrain event, and that he typically oversees car release procedures.
Despite the defense presented by Shovlin, the FIA’s Single Seater Sporting Director emphasized that releasing cars based on an estimated time could lead to an unfair advantage, particularly in tight sessions where time is limited. The stewards agreed with this perspective, stating that even the perception of an advantage in such a scenario warranted a sporting penalty rather than a mere team fine.
The FIA clarified that although the violation stemmed from a misjudgment and not deliberate misconduct, it still constituted a breach of procedure. The regulatory body acknowledged the apology from Shovlin but reinforced the importance of following precise timing protocols to ensure fairness across the grid.
In line with this, both Russell and Antonelli will drop one place on the starting grid for Sunday’s race. Russell, who initially qualified second, will now start from P3, while Antonelli drops from P4 to P5. The FIA further warned that if a similar incident were to occur again under different or more critical circumstances, harsher penalties could be applied.
The verdict sends a clear message to all teams about the importance of adhering strictly to official instructions during red flag periods. The FIA concluded that while Mercedes’ infraction did not result in direct harm or disruption, the potential for sporting gain – even unintended – required a tangible consequence to prevent future occurrences.
With the grid reshuffle now confirmed, Mercedes faces a slightly tougher challenge heading into Sunday’s race. Both drivers will need to work their way forward from slightly less favorable positions as they aim for strong points in the season opener.
