Now, here is a wild twist from a chaotic day of racing, as Crash.net reports. Newly-crowned Formula 1 world champion Andrea Kimi Antonelli was handed a five-second time penalty following a messy Sao Paulo Grand Prix for an unsafe release in the pit lane.
Antonelli and a Mercedes representative had to report to the stewards at 4:30pm local time (7:30pm GMT). The investigation centered on an incident that saw the 20-year-old Italian sent out directly into the path of Alpine's Franco Colapinto.
As the stewards noted in their official verdict, the Mercedes machine momentarily lost control on the slippery surface. The driver had to actively take steps to avoid a collision with the approaching car in the fast lane, creating a genuinely hairy moment that the team admitted could have been handled much better.
Thankfully, the five-second penalty imposed after the race made absolutely zero difference to the final standings. Because the newly-crowned world champion finished more than 20 seconds clear of McLaren's Oscar Piastri, he comfortably retained his finishing position of fifth.
It was an uncharacteristically scrappy afternoon for the Italian driver. He even spun out of the lead at one point, ultimately crossing the line right behind Mercedes team-mate George Russell in P5. Still, there was plenty to celebrate as the Silver Arrows officially sealed the constructors' world championship title with three rounds to spare.
Antonelli wasn't the only one caught out by pit lane drama, either. Haas driver Ollie Bearman was also slapped with a five-second penalty for an identical unsafe release during his stop, though like the winner's sanction, it altered nothing as the Briton finished a lap down in 17th position.
F1
F1
