Doc 41 - Infringement - Car 12 - Yellow flag infringement
Infringements/Decisions
Infringement Notice - Car 12 (Yellow Flag Violation)
Session: Qualifying
Time: 16:59
Competitor: Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team
Driver: 12 - Kimi Antonelli
Offence Details
- Fact: The driver of Car 12 did not slow sufficiently under single yellow flags at Turn 14.
- Infringement: Breach of Appendix H, Article 2.5.5 b) of the International Sporting Code and B1.8.4a of the FIA F1 Regulations.
Decision
- Penalty: Drop of 3 grid positions for the next Sprint/Race in which the driver participates.
- Penalty Points: 1 penalty point (total of 4 for the 12 month period).
Stewards' Reasoning
- Evidence Reviewed: Heard from the driver, team representative, FIA F1 Race Director, and Sporting Director of the FIA Single Seater Department; reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video, timing, telemetry, and in-car video evidence.
- Driver's Claim: The driver stated he lifted off the throttle earlier than his previous push lap upon seeing the yellow flag/light panel, which telemetry verified.
- Key Findings:
- Speed reduction occurred for a very short period.
- Speed when passing the incident site of Car 3 was slightly higher than the previous push lap.
- Mini sector time was only 0.03s slower than his best time.
- Although he lifted 16 metres earlier (14 km/h slower entering the sector), he was 3 km/h faster passing the incident site due to less braking.
- Speed reduction in the mini sector was less than 1%.
- Mitigation: Standard guideline is a 5-position grid drop, but a reduced penalty of 3 positions was applied because the driver did make a speed reduction (albeit insufficient and unsustained) and had limited time and distance to react.