It follows a fresh technical directive from FIA aimed at banning a controversial tactic believed to have been used by teams running Mercedes and Red Bull Powertrains engines.
Kimi Antonelli: Mercedes deployment trick ‘not so safe’
The issue came to light after the Japanese Grand Prix, where it was discovered that both Mercedes and Red Bull had found a way to bypass mandatory power reductions when approaching the timing line during a qualifying lap. Under normal regulations, cars must reduce energy deployment by 50 kilowatts per second at this stage.
By avoiding this gradual ramp-down, the affected teams were able to maintain maximum power output for longer, gaining a significant advantage—estimated between 50 and 100 kilowatts—over rivals whose systems followed the standard reduction pattern.
The method exploited a loophole in rules surrounding the MGU-K, which allow teams to shut down the system in the event of technical issues to prevent damage.
However, this workaround came with a trade-off: a mandatory 60-second shutdown of the MGU-K after use, leaving cars without electrical assistance for up to a minute following a flying lap.
That consequence raised safety concerns, as it could create dangerous speed differences between cars still on full-speed laps and others running significantly slower. Ferrari is reported to have brought the issue to the FIA’s attention.
As reported by the FIA issued a technical directive last week clarifying that the controversial system should only be used in genuine emergency situations—not as a means of gaining performance.
Speaking publicly for the first time about the FIA’s intervention, Kimi Antonelli admitted that any lap-time benefit from the tactic simply wasn’t worth the risks involved.
He explained that while teams are always pushing to extract every bit of performance, the consequences could be unpredictable. Antonelli noted that he became fully aware of the dangers during events in Melbourne and at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka.
Describing the experience, he said the situation felt unsafe—particularly on a narrow circuit like Suzuka—where he found himself effectively a “sitting duck” through high-speed sections such as the esses and chicane. With the car unresponsive due to the temporary shutdown of the MGU-K, he was left rolling slowly on track, unable to react.
Antonelli also pointed out the sporting risks, highlighting that such scenarios could easily lead to impeding another driver during qualifying and result in penalties. In his view, sacrificing a few hundredths of a second is a small price to pay for improved safety and consistency.
The young Mercedes driver is believed to have used the method in both Australia and Japan, where he was seen moving slowly after push laps in practice sessions. However, Mercedes reportedly chose to abandon the tactic for the remainder of the Suzuka weekend following discussions with the FIA and after Antonelli experienced the shutdown firsthand.
The issue wasn’t limited to Mercedes, as the Williams car of Alex Albon also stopped on track during practice due to similar complications. Reports suggest the trick was not used in China, where track layout made it less effective.
Heading into the next phase of the season, Antonelli leads the championship by nine points over teammate George Russell, following back-to-back victories ahead of the upcoming round in Miami.