Why Antonelli avoided a penalty despite four track limits incidents in Singapore GP

Kimi Antonelli committed what appeared to be four track limits violations during the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix but avoided a penalty.

This left many onlookers puzzled post-race, although the usual five-second penalty would not have changed the result: Antonelli finished third, 15.9 seconds ahead of fourth-placed Lando Norris.

An immediate post-race assumption was that his fourth incident, which occurred on the lap after his pitstop, had not counted. That would have left Antonelli within the permitted limit of three track limits violations.

An FIA spokesperson has confirmed this was indeed the case. The fourth violation could be explained by braking problems, which had also been discussed over the Mercedes team radio. In the eyes of the FIA stewards, this constituted a "justifiable reason" for leaving the track on that occasion.

This is also how the 2026 Formula 1 regulations address the matter in Article B1.8.5, which states: "Drivers must make every reasonable effort to use the track at all times and may not leave the track without a justifiable reason."

The braking problems therefore saved Antonelli from a penalty, particularly as he gained no advantage by going off track.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photo by: Clive Mason / Getty Images

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is nevertheless well aware of the fine line his driver is walking during the race: "That stresses us. Half the race we already have three strikes, but it also shows that he's pushing the limits a lot."

The official FIA document listing deleted lap times during the race records track limits violations for Antonelli at Turns 2 (twice) and Turn 19 (once) – all of them in the first half of the race, as Wolff suggested. 

The apparent fourth violation, this time at Turn 7, prompted a somewhat irritated response from Antonelli's race engineer Peter Bonnington over the radio.

With a little distance, however, Wolff was able to see the funny side.

"I think he managed his race, he kept his cool – other than a few of the track limits, where I have a good strategy, I'm going to put a pillow from the hotel under his butt, so he can actually see the road. Because I think he can't see it," Wolff joked.

Overall, however, Wolff praised Antonelli's handling of the situation as "mature and good", and added: “We talked about it and he said, 'I've just got to keep my calm here and make sure that I finish the race'. So, handling a difficult car at that stage and trying to develop it and learn, it's good."