Antonelli Calls Mercedes Qualifying Trick ‘Not Safe’ as FIA Bans It

Kimi Antonelli, the rookie who stepped in for Mercedes at the Japanese Grand Prix, welcomed the FIA’s decision to outlaw the “continuous offset” software trick that Mercedes and Red Bull used in qualifying. He said the tactic left him “a sitting duck” on the narrow Suzuka Esses, with no power on the cooldown lap, and was “not so safe”.

Why it matters:

• Safety – Disabling the MGU‑K mid‑lap removes driver control, a serious risk on tight circuits like Suzuka.
• Fair competition – The trick exploits an emergency‑mode function for a marginal time gain, blurring the line between legal strategy and rule‑bending.
• Strategic balance – Banning it forces teams back to conventional energy‑deployment tactics, preserving the intended technical challenge.

The details:

• The “continuous offset” triggers an emergency mode that instantly shuts down the MGU‑K, causing a one‑minute engine lockout.
• In qualifying, teams could activate it on the cooldown lap to avoid the mandatory energy ramp‑down, shaving off a few hundredths of a second.
• The FIA issued a written notice stating the function is intended only for genuine emergencies, and therefore prohibited its use for performance.
• Antonelli’s car stalled at Suzuka’s Esses, leaving him to roll slowly with no steering response – a stressful moment he described as “not so safe”.
• Both Mercedes and Red Bull have confirmed they employed the trick earlier this season.

What's next:

• Teams must revert to standard energy‑recovery management, likely losing the tiny time advantage the trick offered.
• Antonelli expects qualifying to become more predictable, reducing the risk of losing control on narrow sections.
• The FIA’s swift clarification may deter future software exploits that push the boundaries of power‑unit regulations.