Mercedes F1 star slapped with FIA penalty at Chinese Grand Prix

Russell and Antonelli in Mercedes race suits against the FIA and F1 blue and white screen backdrop — Photo: © IMAGO

Chinese Grand Prix

Mercedes F1 star slapped with FIA penalty at Chinese GP

The stewards have found this Silver Arrows star to be at fault

Kerry Violet F1 News Editor

F1 editor and journalist covering motorsport since 2024.

Saturday 14 March 2026 06:55

A star of the Mercedes F1 team has suffered a setback at this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix in what was gearing up to be a formidable weekend for the Silver Arrows.

George Russell and Kimi Antonelli took to the Shanghai International Circuit for the first sprint weekend of the 2026 season on Friday, where they showed once again that Mercedes are the team to beat early on in the new regulations era.

The Mercedes driver duo finished the first and only practice session of the weekend as the top two fastest cars on track, before going on to secure yet another one-two result in sprint qualifying.

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But as Russell got off the line in Saturday's 100km race after securing the first sprint pole position of his career, Antonelli suffered a nightmare start which only worsened after making contact with a rival on the opening lap.

SPRINT RACE RESULTS: Hamilton survives safety car chaos for Chinese GP podium

Antonelli picks up Shanghai sprint penalty

The Italian teenager dropped from P2 to P7 immediately after lights out for the first sprint of the year, apologising to his team after the race, claiming to have had no boost.

But the 19-year-old was perhaps too eager to pick off the drivers ahead of him in order to make up places.

Shortly after the start of the sprint, Antonelli made contact with Isack Hadjar and was noted for causing a collision at Turn 6 as bodywork could be seen flying off the Red Bull.

The FIA later confirmed that Antonelli had been found to have been at fault for the incident, with the stewards slapping him with a 10-second time penalty.

On lap 13 of the 19-lap sprint, Nico Hulkenberg was forced to pull up on the side of the track in his new Audi, prompting yellow flags initially before a safety car was called.

Mercedes then double stacked Russell and Antonelli during the safety car on lap 14, with Antonelli serving his 10-second time penalty in the pits before rejoining the race down in P7.

As his team-mate stormed to sprint race victory, the younger star of the Mercedes driver duo crossed the line to finish fifth.

What did Toto Wolff say about Kimi Antonelli's penalty?

Speaking to Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz after the race, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff floated the idea that he had perhaps expected Antonelli to receive a slightly more lenient five-second penalty for causing the collision.

Discussing the punishment, Antonelli’s boss said: “I thought it could have been a five-second penalty but you know at the end it’s always difficult for the stewards to do the right thing.”

Mercedes FIA Kimi Antonelli Chinese Grand Prix Shanghai International Circuit