Mercedes issued punishment at Japanese Grand Prix

Mercedes have been handed a punishment for one of their drivers breaching Formula 1 rules at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Kimi Antonelli was pinged for speeding in the pit lane in Friday's first practice session at Suzuka, the team being fined €100 for being just 0.9km/h over the limit.

Antonelli was less than 1km/h over the 80 km/h speed limit, but that's far from the most minor infringement punished along these lines, with the likes of Max Verstappen and Mick Schumacher punished for being just 0.1km/h over the limit in the past.

Antonelli had a reasonably pedestrian practice session, setting the ninth fastest time on Friday morning while his team-mate George Russell was second on the timing boards behind Lando Norris.

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Mercedes fined at Japanese Grand Prix

The young Italian has had a promising start to his Formula 1 career, finishing fourth on debut in Australia after picking his way through the wet weather chaos, before finishing sixth (after penalties to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in front of him) in Shanghai.

His Mercedes team-mate Russell has also had an impressive start to the 2025 season as the team adjust to life without Hamilton, picking up a pair of podium finishes to start the year.

An FIA statement read: "Car 12 exceeded the pit lane speed limit which is set at 80 km/h for this event by 0.9 km/h.

"Competitors are reminded that they have the right to appeal certain decisions of the Stewards, in accordance with Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code and Chapter 4 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules, within the applicable time limits."

READ MORE: F1 2025: Japanese Grand Prix start times, schedule and how to watch live on TV

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