Mercedes secures third and fourth positions in the Formula One season opener in Australia after challenging an untelevised penalty.

Kimi Antonelli was given a five-second time penalty at the chequered flag in Melbourne, before a successful petition from Mercedes to overturn it. Antonelli finished fourth on the road in what was a stellar debut race in Formula 1,

Mercedes made the call to replace Lewis Hamilton with young phenom Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and the 18-year-old dazzled in his debut, finishing fourth in challenging conditions after starting in P16. For a moment it looked as if Antonelli would be demoted to fifth due to a five-second penalty that was assessed for an unsafe release,

A wet and windy Albert Park offered a daunting test for the six drivers starting a Formula One season for the first time at the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday but Mercedes' teen talent Kimi Antonelli passed his exam with flying colours.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli suffered a major floor damage after going off track during the Australian Grand Prix qualifying.

Kimi Antonelli's performance and Mercedes’ successful appeal saw him retain his fourth-place finish as the penalty was overturned.

Rookie Italian driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli made his F1 debut on March 16, finishing a very impressive fifth, but has moved up a spot after an appeal from Mercedes