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Mercedes F1 star Kimi Antonelli was one of seven drivers to be handed a deleted lap verdict following the Canadian Grand Prix.
Mercedes Formula 1 rising star Kimi Antonelli experienced both triumph and technical setback following an impressive performance at the Canadian Grand Prix. The 18-year-old Italian not only claimed his maiden F1 podium—becoming the third-youngest driver in history to do so—but also found himself among a group of drivers penalized by the FIA after the race for exceeding track limits.
Antonelli, who overtook McLaren’s Oscar Piastri early on and held his ground in challenging conditions, crossed the finish line behind only race winner Max Verstappen and teammate George Russell. His P3 finish marked a milestone in his fledgling career and added valuable points for Mercedes in the constructors’ championship. The result helped the Silver Arrows leapfrog Ferrari back into second place, narrowing McLaren’s lead at the top.
This was only Antonelli’s tenth Formula 1 race, but he has already begun to silence skeptics, with consistent performances placing him seventh in the drivers’ standings—just 16 points adrift of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
However, the weekend wasn’t without controversy. Post-race scrutiny by the FIA revealed that Antonelli had his lap time deleted for violating track limits on lap three. At Turn 14—the infamous chicane leading to the Wall of Champions—he veered off track to avoid a potential crash, a move likely made in caution rather than aggression. Still, the FIA ruled that he failed to stay within track limits, and his lap time of 1:16.878 was deleted.
Antonelli wasn’t alone in this. Several other drivers were similarly penalized for incidents at Turn 14, including Ollie Bearman (who had three laps deleted), Pierre Gasly, Isack Hadjar (twice), Carlos Sainz, and Charles Leclerc. Alex Albon also had a lap time invalidated, though his occurred at Turn 9 early in the race, before he eventually retired with a power unit issue.
Could This Be a Turning Point for Mercedes?
While Antonelli’s penalty had no impact on his final race position, the spotlight now shines even brighter on Mercedes. George Russell’s win in Montreal was both his and the team’s first of the season, hinting at a possible resurgence. The one-three finish—especially after an inconsistent run through the European triple-header—raises hope that Mercedes may finally be overcoming the issues that plagued their 2024 campaign.
Russell attributed part of the Canadian success to the cool temperatures, which historically suit the Mercedes package better. Though the mercury did rise into the mid-20s Celsius by Sunday, both drivers still showed strong pace, potentially dispelling long-standing concerns about the car’s performance in warmer conditions.
If this result is a sign of things to come, Mercedes may be positioning themselves not only to consistently challenge McLaren and Ferrari but to re-enter the conversation for the constructors’ championship.
As for Antonelli, his historic podium at 18 years and 294 days—only behind Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll in the all-time youngest podium finishers list—cements his status as a future superstar. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff will no doubt be hoping this is just the beginning of a glittering career at the front of the grid.
With European summer races ahead, all eyes will be on whether Antonelli and Mercedes can keep the momentum rolling.
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