Just In: Mercedes F1 driver is under Investigation by FIA Stewards following Lando Norris…read more
Mercedes F1 driver is under Investigation by FIA Stewards following Lando Norris…read more
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli is under investigation by FIA stewards following an incident involving McLaren driver Lando Norris during sprint qualifying at the Shanghai International Circuit ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.
The moment occurred in the second segment of sprint qualifying (SQ2), when Antonelli appeared to impede Norris while the McLaren driver was attempting to begin a flying lap. Antonelli was reportedly moving slowly through the opening corner of the track, preparing for his next push lap, when Norris approached at full speed.
As Norris reached the apex of the first corner, he suddenly encountered the Mercedes driver ahead on the racing line. With little time to react, the British driver was forced to take evasive action to avoid a potential collision. While the manoeuvre prevented contact between the two cars, it effectively ruined Norris’ flying lap attempt.
Because the lap had been compromised, Norris had to abandon the run and continue around the circuit to start another timed lap. In the tightly scheduled qualifying session, losing a lap can be costly, especially when drivers have limited time to deliver their best performance.
Immediately after the incident, Norris informed his team over the radio, pointing out the situation and the near-miss that had just taken place. Race control quickly acknowledged the report and placed the moment under review during the session. Shortly afterwards, officials confirmed that the incident would be investigated after qualifying had finished.
Despite the disruption, both drivers were still able to progress to the final stage of sprint qualifying, SQ3. The final segment features a brief eight-minute shootout in which the remaining drivers battle for sprint pole position.
Antonelli delivered a strong performance earlier in the session, finishing second fastest in SQ2. He was only beaten by his Mercedes team-mate George Russell, who topped the timesheets during that phase of qualifying. Norris, meanwhile, ended the segment in sixth position after recovering from the earlier interruption.
The stewards will now examine whether Antonelli’s actions amounted to impeding another driver, which is considered a breach of Formula 1 sporting regulations. When a driver obstructs another competitor who is on a fast lap, it can compromise the lap time and also create a potentially dangerous situation due to the large difference in speed between the two cars.
If Antonelli is found responsible, the most common penalty would be a three-place grid drop for the sprint race. This type of sanction is frequently applied in qualifying incidents where a driver unintentionally blocks another competitor.
However, if the stewards believe the situation posed a greater safety risk, they could impose a harsher penalty. In more serious cases, the punishment can increase to a five-place grid drop, which would significantly affect Antonelli’s starting position for the sprint event.
At this stage, the incident does not appear to involve deliberate blocking. Situations like this can occur during qualifying when drivers are trying to manage traffic while preparing their tyres, battery deployment, and positioning for a fast lap.
Even so, the FIA typically reviews such incidents carefully. The stewards will analyse video footage, telemetry data, and team radio communications before making a final decision.
Until the investigation is concluded, Antonelli’s sprint grid position remains uncertain, with the outcome of the stewards’ review potentially reshaping the starting order for the sprint race in Shanghai.
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