Charles Leclerc will start the Bahrain Grand Prix from the front row of the grid after both Mercedes drivers were penalised for the same infringement in qualifying.
The stewards ruled Mercedes sent both cars out of their garage before they were permitted to when Q2 restarted following Esteban Ocon’s crash.George Russell originally qualified second alongside pole-winner Oscar Piastri. Andrea Kimi Antonelli was due to start fourth in the other Mercedes. Both drivers were given one-place grid penalties.
Mercedes committed the infringement after its head of trackside engineering, Andrew Shovlin, misunderstood a message on the timing screen. He said he thought the FIA had issued a definitive restart time, not a provisional one.
“The team representative, Mr Shovlin, in evidence stated that he gave the instruction for the cars to be released, in error, having misinterpreted the message posted on page three of the timing screen, ‘estimated restart time’ to be a message advising the actual restart time,” the stewards noted. “He argued that there was no sporting advantage gained in this case as there was sufficient time remaining (11 minutes) for other teams to perform their run plans.
“It was also noted that the team’s sporting director, Mr Meadows, was not present at the event and that normally he would be involved in the release process.”
The FIA noted that due to the limited amount of time available in qualifying, Mercedes stood to gain an advantage by ensuring their drivers joined the track immediately.
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“The FIA single seater sporting director stated that such a move could be a sporting advantage in that it could enable a team to perform its run plan whereas other teams may not be able to,” the stewards reported. “The stewards agree with this view particularly where there are only a few minutes remaining in the session.”
As a result, the stewards decided to issue a grid drop. They accepted Mercedes’ claim they had made an unintentional error and said in their verdict a similar infringement could result in tougher sanctions in future.
“The FIA sporting director argued that there needed to be a sporting penalty rather than a team fine, otherwise in future teams would release their cars as soon as the estimated restart time was published,” they noted. “The stewards agree with this view.
“Mr Shovlin argued that it was possible to give a non-sporting penalty if the stewards declared that it was not to be taken as a precedent but also stated that if a sporting penalty was to be given, it should be mitigated.
“The stewards agreed with the view that this breach required a sporting penalty however [they] accept that the breach was unintentional and a genuine mistake by the team for which Mr Shovlin apologised. We decide to impose a one position grid penalty. A similar breach in different circumstances, could entail a more severe sporting penalty in future.”
- Updated 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix grid
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Keith Campbell (@keithedin)
12th April 2025, 20:38
I think it’s fair to apply a sporting penalty when there is a sporting advantage to the error. Getting out first in the pitlane queue is important for tyre prep, as we can see from the many drivers in this session and others who complain they get poor laps because they didn’t have the ideal preparation on the out lap. Unlucky for George and Kimi, but one place grid penalty is the minimum that could be applied, so also could have been worse if the stewards were feeling less charitable.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
12th April 2025, 20:41
I was expecting more, I think they’ve been fortunate here. The fact Meadows wasn’t there should be irrelevant as far as the stewards are concerned.
AlexS
12th April 2025, 21:03
I was also expecting more, at least 5 position. I think they were very lenient.
Jim from US (@jimfromus)
12th April 2025, 22:00
5? 3 places is the usual penalty. They did gain an advantage as other teams were trying to get out first and were caught off guard when Mercedes lined up. Tough break for the drivers. The guy making the mistake should have to be Toto’s butler for a week.
Stephen Taylor
12th April 2025, 21:06
I think the biggest factor that saved them was the fact there was still plenty of time time left in Q2 for others to get their laps . Because Merc gained clear no sporting advantage from what they did even though they could could have done that’s why a lesser penalty was given.
Jere (@jerejj)
13th April 2025, 5:35
@keithedin Maybe better for tyre prep, but ultimately the exact same outcome regardless of whether leaving the pit lane first happens normally or due to leaving the garage prematurely, so zero advantage in this regard.
Kringle
12th April 2025, 21:16
In my experience, the attitude of a person in these situations can really make a difference. Maybe not so much in the black-and-white world of F1. But a humble approach in front of stewards in lower formulae can mean the difference between a demotion or just penalty points.
Doggy
12th April 2025, 21:28
I think this type of punishment is too much for the drivers.
Just give them a $100k penalty to Mercedes and that’s it.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
12th April 2025, 23:55
It wouldn’t be an effective deterrent, as the stewards correctly point out, as some teams would happily pay to ensure they got a more favourable place in the queue under circumstances – for example if rain was coming and the first cars out were guaranteed to get vastly better track conditions.
Doggy
13th April 2025, 12:22
Good feedback from you @keithcollantine.
My point here is: if the monetary penalty is hefty enough, then that would refrain teams from doing this.
The main deterrent will be that the penalty will come from their yearly budget allocation.
The question is how much does it cost ($) one grip penalty? . Because, yes, that grid penalty to Russel is meaningful since he is behind Leclerc. But for Kimi is almost meaningless, since he will easily pass Gasly.
With the proceeds of these penalties can be used to the development of future talents, charitable actions, etc.
Fred Fedurch
13th April 2025, 12:38
Fine for this instance. Grid penalty going forward for any team doing it again.
Coventry Climax
13th April 2025, 13:33
Downright brilliant display of professionalism by the FiA in improving the show and fanbase engagement for all of us.
And then next year we even get to bet on these things. Can’t wait.