Mercedes Fined €10,000 After Pit Lane Incident with Antonelli and Tsunoda

Mercedes has been hit with a €10,000 fine following a pit lane collision between their driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull during FP3 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The incident, which saw Antonelli released unsafely into Tsunoda's path, caused damage to both cars and prompted an FIA investigation.

Why it matters:

• Pit lane safety and adherence to regulations are paramount in Formula 1, especially during chaotic sessions like FP3. This fine underscores the FIA's commitment to enforcing these rules to prevent more severe incidents and maintain fair competition.
• Such incidents, even minor ones, can significantly impact a team's practice session and car performance, potentially affecting qualifying and race results. For a developing driver like Antonelli, even a team-induced error like this can add pressure.

The details:

• The collision occurred in the closing minutes of FP3 when Tsunoda was proceeding down the fast lane of the pit lane, and Antonelli was released from his Mercedes garage.
• Antonelli's car made contact with the right-rear corner of Tsunoda's Red Bull, resulting in damage to Tsunoda's floor and bargeboard area.
• Antonelli's car also sustained damage to the left-hand endplate of his front wing.
• The FIA stewards launched an investigation, summoning both drivers and team representatives from Mercedes and Red Bull.
• Mercedes acknowledged being "in a bit of a rush" to get Antonelli back on track, attributing the haste to a preceding red flag caused by Lewis Hamilton's car.
• The stewards' verdict noted that no fault was attributed to Antonelli, as he was following team instructions.
• The €10,000 fine mirrors a similar penalty issued to Ferrari earlier in the season for a pit lane collision between Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris at the Singapore Grand Prix.

Between the lines:

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff publicly apologized to Tsunoda for the incident, taking full responsibility for the team's error. This quick admission of fault and apology reflects a common practice among F1 teams to manage public perception and inter-team relations after such incidents.

What's next:

The incident served as a reminder of the high-pressure environment in F1 pit lanes. While the fine concludes this specific investigation, teams will continue to review their pit release procedures to prevent future occurrences, especially as driver lineups and regulations evolve towards the 2025 and 2026 seasons.