Stewards reverse Antonelli pitlane penalty decision

Kimi Antonelli will tonight be celebrating a fourth-place finish on debut in Australia after the Stewards sided with Mercedes’ Right of Review, deciding to reverse the rookie’s penalty based upon “a significant and relevant new element” of evidence. 

The young Italian was the fourth driver to cross the finish line, tailing his teammate who completed the final step of a hard-fought podium, however, P4 didn’t stick when a five-second time penalty for an unsafe release demoted Antonelli to P5.

Mercedes was quick to form their defence, submitting a Right of Review to the Stewards that encompassed “a significant and relevant new element” of evidence.

After hearing from representatives at both Mercedes and Williams, the Stewards decided that there was a new element “which was unavailable to the party seeking the review at the time of the decision concerned”.

The decision later revealed that was a video from the roll hoop camera, vision that was previously “unavailable at the time of the original decision” as it was only downloaded from the Formula One camera post-race.

“Having examined the new video, plus additional video previously not available to the Stewards and taken from the helicopter, the Stewards decide to reverse the previous Decision,” the document stated. 

“As a result the penalty on Car 12 in Document number 43 is removed and no further action is required.”

“It is clear that Car 12 did not cross into the fast lane until a significant distance down the pit lane and only after the driver checked his mirror to confirm clearance with Car 27. 

“The roll hoop camera shows that he had sufficient room to safely pass the McLaren pits without risk to the McLaren mechanics.”

The decision strips Alex Albon of his inherited P4 finish and the associated 12 points, a result that was his best finish as a Williams driver and his highest finishing position since Abu Dhabi 2020.

Image: Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team

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