Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Kimi Antonelli has been cleared by stewards after receiving outside assistance from a member of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team during qualifying for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit.
The investigation took place during the Q1 session after a red flag was triggered by a crash involving Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing.
During the stoppage, Antonelli had exited the Mercedes garage and was waiting to merge into the fast lane of the pit lane. However, the front wing of his W17 slightly extended over the white line separating the working lane from the fast lane.
A Mercedes crew member then gently pushed the car backwards by a few inches to ensure the front wing no longer protruded into the fast lane. The action was initially flagged for investigation because regulations generally prohibit outside assistance on the car during qualifying sessions.
In their official report, the stewards explained that the situation occurred while the session was suspended under red-flag conditions and that Antonelli’s car had only marginally crossed into the fast lane.
“During the qualifying session, which was suspended due to a red-flag incident, car 12 was waiting to merge into the fast lane,” the stewards stated.
“Car 12 had moved slightly forward with a very small portion of the front wing extending into the fast lane.”
According to the stewards, the Mercedes team member pushed the car back only to prevent the car from obstructing other drivers in the fast lane.
“A team member assisted by pushing the car slightly backwards to ensure that part of the car would not hinder the fast lane.”
The stewards concluded that although the car was touched by a team member, the action did not violate Article B1.6.1e of the sporting regulations, which prohibits work being carried out on the car during the session.
They further clarified that the intervention did not involve any technical work or modification to the car.
“While the car was touched by the team member, this did not constitute work on the car as defined by the regulation.”
Instead, the stewards determined that the team member’s action was appropriate given the circumstances.
“The team member was taking steps to ensure that the fast lane was not obstructed for other drivers.”
As a result, no penalty was issued to either Antonelli or Mercedes, allowing the Italian driver’s qualifying result to stand.
The decision closed another dramatic chapter in a turbulent Australian Grand Prix weekend, during which Antonelli had already endured a heavy crash in FP3 before returning to qualify successfully later the same day.
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