News Summary

Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc have been summoned by the FIA stewards following qualifying for the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix at Madring, with both drivers under investigation for allegedly driving unnecessarily slowly.

Separate summons documents issued shortly after the session show that Mercedes driver Antonelli and Ferrari’s Leclerc are being investigated over the same type of alleged infringement at 17:01 local time.

The FIA cited a possible breach of Article B1.8.5 of the FIA Formula 1 Regulations, with the official reason in both documents listed as: “Driving unnecessarily slowly at 17:01.”

No penalty has been imposed at this stage. A summons means the stewards will hear from the drivers and team representatives before determining whether an infringement occurred and, if so, whether a sanction is required. Other reports from Madrid also confirm that both drivers were among several competitors facing post-qualifying investigations.

The investigation is particularly significant for Antonelli. The championship leader qualified second after losing pole to Lando Norris by only 0.011s, putting the Mercedes driver alongside the McLaren on the front row for Sunday’s inaugural F1 race at Madring.

Antonelli has been ordered to report to the stewards at 18:15 local time, accompanied by a Mercedes representative.

The 20-year-old had been one of the favourites for pole after Mercedes controlled all three practice sessions. Antonelli led FP2 and FP3 but was denied at the decisive moment when Norris produced a 1:31.824, only 11 thousandths quicker than the Mercedes.

Leclerc, meanwhile, has been summoned for 18:30 local time, again with a team representative required to attend.

The Ferrari driver qualified fifth with a 1:32.019, only 0.195s behind Norris. As things stand, he is due to start on the third row alongside George Russell, behind the front two rows of Norris, Antonelli, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.

Ferrari had shown encouraging pace throughout the weekend. Leclerc finished second to Antonelli in FP2, only 0.113s behind, and again placed second in FP3 before qualifying fifth.

The summons do not automatically mean either driver will receive a penalty, and their qualifying positions remain unchanged until the stewards publish their decisions.

That distinction is important with the Spanish GP grid still provisional. The FIA’s post-session process is continuing, with several incidents from qualifying requiring review before the starting order can be considered definitive.

For Antonelli, any grid sanction would be particularly costly given the difficulty drivers have reported in overtaking at Madring. Leclerc made that point after Friday practice, saying passing another car had proved extremely difficult even when there was a significant pace advantage.

The focus now shifts to the stewards’ hearings and whether the FIA concludes that Antonelli and Leclerc breached the regulations by driving unnecessarily slowly.

FAQ

Why are Antonelli and Leclerc under investigation after Spanish GP qualifying?

The FIA has summoned both drivers over an alleged breach of Article B1.8.5 of the F1 Regulations for driving unnecessarily slowly. Both alleged incidents were recorded at 17:01 local time.

Could Antonelli lose his front-row start in Madrid?

Potentially, but no penalty has been issued. Antonelli remains second on the provisional grid until the stewards make a decision following his hearing.

Where did Leclerc qualify for the Spanish GP?

Leclerc qualified fifth for Ferrari with a 1:32.019, 0.195s behind pole-sitter Norris. His starting position remains provisional while the investigation is pending.