Qatar Grand Prix sprint result changes seconds after race as FIA confirms driver punishment

The official results of the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint were altered just moments after the chequered flag waved, as race stewards confirmed post-race time penalties. These sanctions were specifically handed out to drivers who had exceeded the defined track limits too many times during the race.

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri maintained his strong performance to secure the victory from pole position in the short-form race. Crucially, the final results for the top three remained stable, with George Russell and Lando Norris retaining second and third place, respectively.

The track limit rule dictates that a driver must not cross the painted white lines defining the edge of the track on too many occasions. Repeated breaches of this regulation automatically trigger a mandatory five-second time penalty under the competition's guidelines.

Initially, Visa Cash App RB driver Yuki Tsunoda was the first to be issued a five-second penalty for his track limit violations. This penalty caused him to drop several positions and allow those behind him to move up the leaderboard in the provisional standings.

In the immediate aftermath, Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli benefited from Tsunoda's demotion, provisionally rising to fifth place in the race result. This upward move was quickly scrutinized as the stewards began to investigate Antonelli's own driving conduct.

It was soon confirmed that Antonelli had also been guilty of a track limit infringement on the final lap, marking his fourth violation during the Sprint race. As per the established regulations, the stewards were required to impose a similar five-second penalty on the young driver.

The imposed sanction on Antonelli resulted in his final classification dropping from fifth place down to sixth position overall. This penalty effectively cost him a crucial championship point that he would have otherwise earned.

The final demotion meant that Yuki Tsunoda, despite his own earlier five-second penalty, ultimately finished ahead of Antonelli in fifth place. The complex sequence of penalties highlighted the strict enforcement of track limits at the Losail International Circuit.