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Motorsport

Toto Wolff issues apology to Red Bull as Mercedes fined after costly Abu Dhabi FP3 error

Toto Wolff Red Bull Andrea Kimi Antonelli Yuki Tsunoda Abu Dhabi Mercedes George Russell Lando Norris

Mercedes Formula 1 CEO and team principal Toto Wolff has issued an apology to Red Bull after a crash between Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Yuki Tsunoda during FP3 in Abu Dhabi.

The incident took place in the pitlane. As Mercedes released the rookie driver, he went straight into the side of Red Bull's Tsunoda, causing damage to the side of his RB21.

"First of all, I'm sorry for Yuki, because I think we damaged all of the good bits of his car. Was our mistake. We need to identify what happened," Wolff told Sky Sports F1 after the session.

Antonelli has hit Tsunoda in the pit lane 💥

Carbon fibre everywhere and the stewards are investigating the Mercedes driver for an unsafe release#F1 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/9q0qb8Wcae
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 6, 2025

"Not quite sure. But the session was grim at the beginning, but then I think George had a proper lap and that was good enough for P1. And with Kimi after the shunt in the pitlane, it was all messy, obviously. It's going to be OK."

The stewards handed Mercedes a €10,000 fine for the incident.

Mercedes was not the only team to be investigated. The stewards also looked into multiple possible infringements ahead of qualifying. Williams was under investigation for a potential unsafe release after Alex Albon was released into the path of Haas's Esteban Ocon, which it was later fined €5,000 for. And Tsunoda is also being investigated for possibly impeding championship leader Lando Norris.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes (Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images)

George Russell finished the final practice session with the fastest time ahead of Norris and Red Bull's Max Verstappen. Antonelli had the ninth-fastest time.

"I think on a single lap, yes. On a long run, as we've seen yesterday, I don't think so," Wolff said when asked if he expects the team to be a threat to McLaren and Red Bull in qualifying later today.

He added: "Hopefully we can play in the front and tomorrow, you know, feature a bit."

Qualifying will take place at the Yas Marina Circuit at 6pm local time (2pm UK time).