Antonelli regains fourth place after Australian GP stewards overturn unsafe release penalty
Mercedes successfully overturned Kimi Antonelli's penalty from the Australian Grand Prix, reinstating his fourth-place finish after new evidence emerged.
The initial five-second penalty was given for an alleged unsafe release involving Nico Hulkenberg's Stake car, which had dropped Antonelli behind Alex Albon to fifth place.
Mercedes F1 car racing at speed
The stewards reversed their decision after reviewing previously unavailable footage from Antonelli's roll hoop camera, downloaded post-race by F1's technical team. The new evidence showed that Antonelli's car remained clear of the fast lane until well down the pit lane, with the driver checking his mirrors before safely passing the McLaren pits.
The reversal holds significant championship implications, as Mercedes now draws level with McLaren in the constructors' standings at 27 points. McLaren maintains the advantage due to Lando Norris's race victory.
This outcome marks a remarkable achievement for Antonelli, who had advanced from 16th on the grid to secure his fourth-place finish with a late-race overtake on Albon.