Mercedes and Audi have used Austrian Grand Prix curfew exemptions after FIA officials found team personnel inside the Red Bull Ring during the restricted overnight period, but neither Formula 1 team will face sporting action before Sunday’s race.
The development landed hours after George Russell put Mercedes on pole at Spielberg, adding a procedural subplot to a weekend already shaped by heat, yellow-flag scrutiny and a compressed competitive order.
According to FIA wording reported by News.com.au’s Austrian GP report, Mercedes personnel associated with car operation were inside the circuit during the 11.5-hour restricted window that began at 22:00 on Friday, 26 June and ran to three hours before FP3 on Saturday.
Why no penalty follows
The key point is that the breach counts as Mercedes’ first of four permitted individual exceptions across the 2026 F1 season. Audi also used an exemption at Spielberg, its second of the campaign, so the stewards took no further action against either team.
For Russell, the paperwork leaves the sporting focus on converting pole against Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton and championship leader Kimi Antonelli. For Mercedes, it still matters: one exemption is now gone before the European summer run, reducing operational margin if late-night repairs or new parts create another pressure point later in the season.
