Jenson Button calls out Kimi Antonelli's "silly mistake" after track limits penalty in Miami

Jenson Button branded Kimi Antonelli’s Miami sprint race track limits violation a “silly mistake” after it cost the Mercedes driver valuable championship points

2009 Formula 1 champion Jenson Button has branded Kimi Antonelli's track limits infringement during the Miami sprint race a "silly mistake".

While the Italian driver crossed the line in fourth, he was classified sixth after being handed a five-second penalty due to exceeding track limits.

"The track limits breach, that’s just… I don’t want to say a silly mistake, but it is, really," Button told Sky Sports F1.

"It was an easy fourth position for him, and he’s just lost three points to his biggest title rival."

Antonelli became the youngest leader of the drivers' championship after back-to-back wins at the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix. He arrived in Miami with a nine-point lead over his Mercedes team-mate George Russell, but that gap has now reduced to seven points after the sprint race and penalty.

Former F1 driver Timo Glock also discussed Antonelli's penalty and poor race start with Sky Sports Germany after the sprint race.

"That was just as poor as it was in the other starts. And it feels like — you can see it immediately — as soon as he gets going, there’s instant wheelspin," he said.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photo by: Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

"Maybe — and there have been one or two statements — it could be related to the clutch lever, that he doesn’t quite have the feeling in that initial moment. That would kind of explain why he has this abrupt wheelspin straight away. And that’s exactly what’s important: you need the feel to sense what happens in the car when you release the clutch lever, and maybe he’s lacking that fine touch at the moment."

When asked about the track limits penalty, the German added: "Yes, that was really millimetre work. Of course, from the driver’s position, it’s difficult to see. But he has to keep that in mind — if he knows he’s already right on the limit and has already picked up two or three track limits.

"In that situation, I have to say, he didn’t really have anything left to gain or lose. You just have to play it safe and factor in that extra half metre. That must not happen to him. Of course, it’s frustrating that he drops another two positions because of it."