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Kimi Antonelli calls for F1 review after George Russell yellow flag controversy
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Kimi Antonelli calls for F1 review after George Russell yellow flag controversy

Kimi Antonelli felt the flag sequence was appropriate for what happened during Austrian GP qualifying, but feels a review could be needed.

Kimi Antonelli believes the circumstances around the yellow flags controversy in Austrian Grand Prix qualifying need to be "reviewed."

The Italian held provisional pole at the Red Bull Ring, and was shuffled down to third after the Ferraris completed their second laps whilst he was on his own attempt.

However, he was behind Max Verstappen on track when the Red Bull spun off at Turn 9 and into the barrier, prompting yellow flags to be flown.

Antonelli mistakenly believed these to be double-waved yellows when he passed through the area, but they were only single-waved yellows, which require drivers to only lift off and not abort their laps.

Antonelli's team-mate George Russell lifted successfully and went on to improve his time to score pole position, and shuffle Antonelli down to fourth, behind Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. 

Reflecting on whether the Verstappen crash should have been covered under red flag conditions, Antonelli felt that whilst double yellows was "enough", the sequence of events could be "reviewed" in future.

"I think double yellows would have been enough, because you just need to abort the lap, but for sure it is something that needs to be reviewed," Antonelli told media, including RacingNews365.

"Especially when it happens in a high-speed corner. If it’s a slow speed, still, a single yellow can be okay, but for a fast corner, it should be double yellow straightaway.

"There was a car in the wall on a fast corner, so I think, in this situation, I don’t know why it didn’t go double yellow straight away because it’s a super quick corner, and if you go off at the same time, it can end up very badly.

"So a bit confusing, but it is what it is."

Originally published by RacingNews365

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