Audi still disputes the lack of sanction against Yuki Tsunoda at Monza. Racing Bulls is now preparing to defend its driver before the FIA.
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The result of the Italian Grand Prix is still not entirely final for Yuki Tsunoda. After finishing tenth at Monza, the Racing Bulls driver could still lose his only point following the appeal filed by Audi against the decision of the stewards not to sanction him.
At the heart of the dispute is the strange sequence preceding the restart after the accident of Charles Leclerc. Tsunoda had initially lined up on the wrong side of the grid before correcting his trajectory and stopping in his spot. However, his car was positioned at an angle, prompting race director Rui Marques to cancel the procedure and impose an additional formation lap.
Audi challenges the interpretation of the regulation
The debate centers precisely on article B5.9.4 of the sporting regulations. It states that a driver deemed responsible for causing an additional formation lap must enter the pit lane and start from there.
After examining the situation, the stewards had decided not to take any action against Tsunoda. They noted in particular that his Racing Bulls car was indeed within his grid slot despite its unusual positioning.
Moreover, Racing Bulls had never been informed that its driver was considered responsible for the additional formation lap. The team therefore had no reason to ask him to join the pits before the restart.
The stewards ultimately considered that this additional lap resulted from the race director’s judgment rather than an infraction directly attributable to Tsunoda. It is precisely this interpretation that Audi now wishes to have overturned.
A point at stake for Audi
The issue is far from purely legal. Tsunoda finished the Italian Grand Prix in tenth place and earned the last available point, while Gabriel Bortoleto crossed the line seven seconds later in 11th place.
If Audi’s appeal succeeds and Tsunoda ultimately receives a penalty sufficient to lose his position, Bortoleto could be promoted to tenth and gain that point.
“We raised a concern regarding the application of article B5.9.4, which requires a driver who caused an additional formation lap to enter the pit lane and resume the race from there.”
Audi announced its intention to appeal shortly after Monza, before confirming its approach during the media day preceding the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid.
“The stewards decided not to take any further action and we have notified our intention to appeal.”
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Racing Bulls will defend Tsunoda
Alan Permane, for his part, shows no particular concern in public. The Racing Bulls director knows that his team will probably have to go to Paris to defend its interpretation of the events before the FIA International Court of Appeal.
He preferred to react with humor at the prospect of another trip to the French capital.
“It’s always nice to spend an evening in Paris, first of all, or even a second one in a short time.”
Nevertheless, Racing Bulls intends to take the case very seriously and defend both the team and its driver.
“We will obviously go there to defend the team and defend Yuki. I can’t really say more while the case is ongoing.”
A new hearing in Paris for Racing Bulls
Permane specifies, however, that Racing Bulls had not yet received official notification from the FIA at the time of his statements. The procedure was therefore not yet formally initiated from the team’s point of view.
“In fact, it’s not even an officially opened case yet because I don’t think we have received anything. We haven’t even received notification from the FIA.”
The British official nevertheless does not doubt that the procedure will follow its course and already expects to have to go to Paris around the end of October.
“I’m sure it will happen and I imagine that at some point, towards the end of October, we will head to Paris.”
This trip would not be a recent first for Racing Bulls. The team had already been involved in a hearing before the International Court of Appeal following the Monaco Grand Prix, in a procedure concerning penalties imposed on Pierre Gasly.
This time, the issue directly concerns Tsunoda and his point earned at Monza. Audi hopes to recover this tenth place in favor of Bortoleto, while Racing Bulls intends to demonstrate that its driver followed the instructions given to him and that no further sanction is justified. Several weeks after the checkered flag, the Italian Grand Prix classification could therefore still change.
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