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

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,

Toto Wolff was unimpressed with the handling of Kimi Antonelli's pit lane incident at the Australian Grand Prix.

A Mercedes Formula 1 driver has been demoted after a late FIA penalty at the Australian Grand Prix. UPDATE: Mercedes have since launched a right of review for the incident and the penalty has now been overturned.

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.

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