Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli found himself in trouble with FIA stewards during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend after being investigated for driving too slowly during sprint qualifying. While the offence may sound unusual in Formula 1, it relates to strict regulations designed to prevent dangerous traffic build-ups on track during qualifying sessions.
Ahead of every qualifying and sprint qualifying session, the FIA reminds drivers that they must stay within a maximum lap time between designated safety car lines. The rule exists to stop drivers from crawling around the circuit while preparing for flying laps, something that can create heavy congestion and increase the risk of incidents.
For the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, race officials informed teams that drivers had to remain under a time of 1 minute and 22 seconds in the specified section of the circuit. Any driver exceeding that limit without a valid reason could be investigated for “driving unnecessarily slowly.”
Antonelli was later summoned by the stewards after telemetry and timing data suggested he had breached that instruction during sprint qualifying on Friday evening. The young Italian, who has impressed throughout his debut Formula 1 campaign with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, was accused of failing to maintain the required pace on a non-timed lap.
In many similar cases, drivers avoid punishment because they are either delayed by another car, forced off the racing line, or dealing with traffic ahead. However, the stewards determined that none of those explanations applied in Antonelli’s situation.
After reviewing multiple sources of evidence — including positioning data, onboard footage, telemetry, team radio communications and video recordings — the FIA concluded that Antonelli had indeed driven unnecessarily slowly. Officials specifically noted that he did not allow any cars behind him to pass, which strengthened the case against him.
Despite confirming the breach, the FIA opted against issuing a sporting penalty or financial fine. Instead, Antonelli escaped with an official warning, meaning there was no impact on his sprint race result or starting position for the remainder of the weekend.
The official statement from the stewards explained their reasoning and confirmed the evidence reviewed before reaching the verdict. The document also reminded competitors that they retain the right to appeal certain stewarding decisions under the FIA International Sporting Code and Judicial and Disciplinary Rules.
Although the punishment was relatively minor, the incident serves as another learning moment for the teenage Mercedes driver as he continues adapting to the demands of Formula 1. Antonelli has already shown impressive pace and maturity during his rookie season, but the Canadian Grand Prix demonstrated how even small procedural errors can quickly attract the attention of race officials in the highly regulated world of F1.
Fortunately for Antonelli and Mercedes, the warning is unlikely to overshadow what has otherwise been another promising weekend for one of the sport’s most highly rated young talents.
