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Toto Wolff blasts FIA penalty as ‘complete bullshit’: Mercedes finds no false start evidence for Antonelli

James Taylor by James Taylor
November 26, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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Toto Wolff blasts FIA penalty as ‘complete bullshit’: Mercedes finds no false start evidence for Antonelli

Formula One F1 - Monaco Grand Prix - Circuit de Monaco, Monaco - May 23, 2025 Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff after practice REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw

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Toto Wolff EXPLODES Over Controversial Penalty Decision: “Complete BS!”

In a shocking revelation that has sent ripples through the motorsport community, Toto Wolff, the formidable leader of Mercedes, has unveiled the findings from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where rookie sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli was controversially slapped with a five-second penalty for a supposed false start. Wolff’s remarks come on the heels of race engineer Peter Bonnington’s heated radio outburst, where he labeled the penalty as “complete BS” after watching his driver’s spectacular performance.

The Italian prodigy, Antonelli, displayed remarkable resilience by storming back from a dismal 17th position on the grid to claim a podium finish in third place. His impressive strategy involved nursing a set of hard tires for a grueling 48 laps following an early pit stop. Initially crossing the finish line in fourth, Antonelli was catapulted into the top three only after McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri faced disqualification for excessive skid-block wear.

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Despite the thrilling race, the shadow of the penalty looms large. Television replays showed Antonelli’s car moving ever so slightly before the start, igniting a firestorm of controversy. In a post-race discussion, Wolff expressed his acceptance of the stewards’ ruling, while simultaneously questioning the legitimacy of the decision. “We couldn’t spot anything on the clutch, nor anything that would have pointed us to an irregular start,” he stated, emphasizing that Mercedes found no evidence of Antonelli releasing the clutch or lifting off the brakes.

Wolff continued, “For me, I’m the only one who seemed to have seen that there was a little bit of a movement. But it definitely wasn’t by releasing the clutch or getting off the brake pedal, so we shall see what the FIA says.” His frustration reflects a broader sentiment among fans and teams, as the FIA, known for its stringent oversight, deemed Antonelli’s movement “slight” but still opted to impose the minimum penalty, stating it was consistent with previous start incidents.

The stewards defended their decision, asserting they reviewed a comprehensive array of data, including timing and video evidence, before concluding that the five-second penalty was warranted. This incident has sparked intense debate within the F1 community about the consistency and fairness of officiating.

Meanwhile, Antonelli’s teammate, George Russell, battled his own challenges during the race weekend, struggling with a persistent steering wheel issue that plagued his performance. Wolff, determined to rectify this recurring problem, noted, “It’s the second time the steering wheel doesn’t come back when opening the wheel on the exit of the corner. We need to see also what it was because we changed the parts overnight and it didn’t make a big difference.”

As the dust settles on this chaotic race weekend, all eyes will be on the FIA and their next move regarding officiating standards and penalties in Formula 1. Will they uphold the integrity of the sport, or will they continue to face backlash for decisions deemed unjust? The Las Vegas Grand Prix has opened a Pandora’s box of questions that fans and teams alike are eager to see addressed as the season unfolds. The stakes have never been higher—buckle up for what lies ahead!

Tags: 1958-formula-1-season2025-football-seasonAndrea Kimi AntonelliGeorge Russelljamarr-chases-mercedes-maybachToto Wolff
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