Mercedes Duo Penalised for Pit Lane Error in Bahrain GP Qualifying, Promoting Rivals on the Grid

Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have both been handed one-place grid penalties ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, following a pit lane procedural error during Saturday’s qualifying session. The penalties drop Russell from second to third, and Antonelli from fourth to fifth, despite a promising performance from the Silver Arrows at the Bahrain International Circuit.

The incident occurred during Q2, which was temporarily red-flagged due to a crash involving Haas driver Esteban Ocon. As the session was about to resume, Mercedes mistakenly released both cars into the fast lane of the pit lane before the official restart time had been confirmed. This move prompted an investigation by the stewards.

Following a thorough review that included team radio, video footage, timing data, and discussions with key figures such as Mercedes Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin and the FIA’s Race and Single Seater Sporting Directors, the stewards determined that a breach of regulations had occurred.

In his testimony, Shovlin admitted that he had misread the “estimated restart time” displayed on the timing screens, mistakenly believing it to be the official signal for session resumption. He acknowledged the error and clarified that no competitive advantage was intended or gained, noting that there were still 11 minutes left in the session.

However, the FIA argued that such a misstep could potentially offer a strategic edge by allowing a team to execute its planned runs ahead of rivals, particularly when time is limited. The stewards concurred, ruling that a sporting penalty, rather than a fine, was necessary to maintain fairness and discourage future infractions.

Though the stewards accepted that the mistake was unintentional and noted the absence of Mercedes Sporting Director Ron Meadows—who would typically oversee such procedures—they ultimately issued one-place grid penalties to both drivers. They also warned that similar violations could result in harsher consequences in the future.

As a result of the penalties, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will now start from the front row alongside the pole-sitter, while Alpine’s Pierre Gasly moves up to fourth on the grid, splitting the two Mercedes drivers. The incident has added an unexpected twist to Sunday’s race and could have implications for early championship momentum.