The result of the Australian Grand Prix has been changed with Kimi Antonelli having a penalty overturned following a post-race appeal from Mercedes. The young Italian crossed the line in fourth place to mark a stunning F1 debut, having started from 16th place after struggling in qualifying. However, he was classified as the fifth-placed finisher after receiving a five-second penalty.

Antonelli was penalised after he was released into the path of Nico Hulkenberg while making a pit stop for a new set of intermediate tyres. The stewards deemed it an unsafe release and handed down the penalty just minutes before the chequered flag. It saw Antonelli drop from fourth to fifth after the race, being leapfrogged by Alex Albon in the finishing order.

Mercedes were quick to challenge the ruling, lodging a petition for the right to review the penalty. In order to succeed, the petition needed to show that it had a significant and relevant new element that was unavailable to the stewards at the time of the decision.

The penalty was eventually overturned, meaning Antonelli has been bumped up to fourth place with Albon slipping one position to fifth. The stewards determined that roll hoop camera footage, which was downloaded after the race, constituted a ‘significant and relevant new element’.

After reviewing the footage, the stewards said: “It is clear that Car 12 [Antonelli] did not cross into the fast lane until a significant distance down the pit lane and only after the driver checked his mirror to confirm clearance with Car 27 [Hulkenberg].”

Antonelli’s impressive display was hailed by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who was left delighted with the teenager’s debut performance for the Silver Arrows.

“He had the fortune of a few cars crashing out and used the pace and showed it when he needed to and made his way up to fourth,” said Wolff on Sky Sports F1.

Antonelli, meanwhile, added: “I learnt so many things. Yesterday was disappointing, it could have been a different result. We don’t want to start that far behind anymore. It was also a good experience learning the intermediate and how it works.

“It was good. A very interesting race. The team did a great job. After my mistake they did well to keep me calm and they made all the right decisions.”

Lando Norris took the chequered flag to secure victory, keeping Max Verstappen at arm’s length in the closing laps. George Russell came home in third place, while Oscar Piastri could only finish ninth after skidding off the circuit during a spell of heavy rain.

It was a disappointing Ferrari debut for Lewis Hamilton, who finished in 10th place due to a strategy error in the ever-changing conditions. His new team-mate Charles Leclerc only fared slightly better, crossing the line in eighth.