Mercedes make final call on Antonelli penalty after British GP controversy

The young Italian saw his race at Silverstone unravel in the closing stages, going from running within three-and-a-half seconds of Charles Leclerc to battling a car issue that ultimately proved costly to his result.

Antonelli had switched to the hard compound tyres for the final stint of the race. However, a wheel shield and an aerodynamic component broke after he attacked the kerbs on the exit of Copse Corner. He quickly radioed the pit wall to report the aerodynamic imbalance he was experiencing following the incident.

The championship leader was then forced into a flurry of pit stops as Mercedes attempted to rectify the issue. However, his return to the track was marked by several off-track excursions, which earned him a five-second penalty and cost him the two points he would have received for finishing ninth.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff had initially hinted that the team was considering an appeal. However, the Brackley-based outfit have now opted against challenging the decision, leaving Antonelli without any points from the race.

In the aftermath of the British Grand Prix, Wolff urged the FIA to show greater leniency in its application of penalties, particularly given the circumstances that led to Antonelli's off-track moments.

The Mercedes boss explained that the car had become extremely difficult to turn, something he believes should have been taken into account when assessing the penalty.

“Yeah, I think for the FIA it's certainly always difficult to judge, is the car so damaged that it should actually come in. And in that case, I think the car was fine, it was just this one feature that it was really difficult to turn,” Wolff told GPblog, among others.

While Antonelli was left to rue another disappointing outing at Silverstone, team-mate George Russell further closed the gap at the top of the drivers' standings with his second-place finish after opting against pitting under the Safety Car during the closing stages of the race. The British Grand Prix was eventually won by Charles Leclerc, with the Scuderia Ferrari driver claiming his maiden win since the 2024 United States Grand Prix. Teammate Lewis Hamilton completed the podium places at his home race.