Antonelli avoids penalty after Singapore track-limits review

Kimi Antonelli finished third at the Singapore Grand Prix after Mercedes successfully challenged one of his four track-limits violations, avoiding the five-second penalty that would normally follow a fourth strike. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff joked afterward that the driver might need a cushion to sit higher and see the track boundaries. Antonelli had accumulated three track-limits strikes during the race and was at risk of a penalty when stewards removed a fourth incident at Turn 7. The reports said Mercedes challenged the violation; one account said the stewards judged Antonelli had lost control amid brake problems and gained no advantage by running wide. The penalty was therefore not applied, and Antonelli’s third-place finish stood. The Italian’s result came after he moved from fifth to third during the race. On the cooldown lap, race engineer Peter Bonnington congratulated him and referred to a brake issue. Antonelli said the pedal had gone long and felt as though he had no brakes. Wolff then suggested over team radio that a cushion could help Antonelli sit higher and avoid further track-limits problems. Antonelli replied that they should consider it.