Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli received an official warning from Formula 1 stewards at the Canadian Grand Prix after being found guilty of driving unnecessarily slowly during qualifying sessions on Friday. The teenage sensation, who secured pole position despite the infraction, was summoned to explain lap times that exceeded the mandated maximum duration for non-timed laps.
The investigation centered on Antonelli’s failure to comply with pre-qualifying regulations requiring drivers to complete reconnaissance and cool-down laps within specific time limits. This weekend’s directive stipulated that drivers must stay below 1 minute and 22 seconds between Safety Car lines to prevent traffic congestion on track during Sprint Qualifying and regular qualifying sessions.
FIA stewards reviewed extensive evidence including positioning data, marshalling system information, video footage, telemetry, team radio communications, and in-car camera angles before reaching their verdict. The officials determined that Antonelli “did not let any cars passed and therefore deemed he was driving unnecessarily slowly,” according to the official ruling.
While drivers frequently receive citations for similar infractions, most cases result in dismissals due to extenuating circumstances such as being held up by other competitors or recovering from off-track excursions. However, stewards found no such mitigating factors in Antonelli’s case, though they opted for the lightest possible sanction rather than imposing financial or sporting penalties that could have affected his starting position.