F1 Drama at Red Bull Ring: Ferrari Driver Sparks Uproar After Forcing Mercedes’ Antonelli Off Track
During the second free practice session at the Red Bull Ring, a moment of tension unfolded between two Formula 1 drivers when an incident involving a Ferrari car and young Mercedes talent Kimi Antonelli occurred at Turn 4. The Ferrari driver, on a slow lap at the time, was allegedly at fault for impeding Antonelli’s faster run through the corner. As both approached the braking zone, the Ferrari gradually drifted across the track and onto the racing line—just as Antonelli was charging in at speed. The Mercedes driver was forced to take swift evasive action, running wide into the runoff area to avoid what could have been a dangerous collision.
Radio communications lit up almost instantly. Antonelli, caught off guard by the sudden obstruction, voiced his frustration, questioning what his fellow drivers were doing. In contrast, the Ferrari driver—realising his error—raised a hand in apology, acknowledging that he hadn’t seen Antonelli approaching until it was too late.
According to the stewards’ report, the Ferrari driver (Car 44) had been warned by his team about the closing speed of Car 12, yet still drifted onto the racing line. While Free Practice sessions typically allow for a more relaxed interpretation of track interference, the stewards ruled the action as unnecessary impeding. Though no penalty was issued, a formal warning was handed down due to the avoidable nature of the incident.
