The FIA have confirmed that Formula 1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli received an additional sanction after the Hungarian Grand Prix, on top of the three-place grid penalty he was already given before Sunday’s race.
Antonelli and fellow title contender Lewis Hamilton were both penalized ahead of the Grand Prix, dropping three places on the starting grid following separate qualifying incidents. However, the Mercedes driver’s disciplinary action did not end there, as the FIA later confirmed another penalty had been issued after further review.
The governing body maintained that the stewards acted in line with Formula 1’s regulations, standing by what many have described as a “painful” decision for the young championship leader. The ruling has sparked debate across the paddock, with some questioning its severity while others praised the FIA for applying the rules consistently.
Hamilton also found himself at the center of controversy during the Hungarian weekend after receiving a five-second time penalty for exceeding the pit-lane speed limit by just 0.1 km/h.
Sky Sports F1 analyst Martin Brundle admitted the punishment appeared extremely harsh given the tiny margin, but acknowledged that the FIA had little choice but to enforce the regulations equally for every driver. The incident once again highlighted Formula 1’s strict approach to rule enforcement, where even the smallest infringement can carry significant consequences.
