Audi have officially lodged an intention to appeal the stewards’ decision not to penalize Yuki Tsunoda after the Japanese driver caused an aborted start at the Italian Grand Prix. Tsunoda was positioned at a sub-optimal angle in his grid box when race director Rui Marques deemed the car’s placement too risky to proceed with the race launch.
Under Formula 1 sporting regulations, any driver who causes an extra formation lap must enter the pit lane at its conclusion and restart from there. Tsunoda did not comply with this requirement but escaped penalty after the FIA race stewards concluded he was not responsible for the formation lap, instead attributing the caution to the race director’s own decisions.
Furthermore, Racing Bulls were never informed that Tsunoda had caused the aborted start. The driver went on to finish 10th, with Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto finishing just behind in 11th. If Audi’s appeal succeeds and Tsunoda receives a penalty, Bortoleto would be promoted into the championship points.
This development adds further intrigue to a contentious Italian Grand Prix weekend, as teams continue to scrutinize stewarding decisions that significantly impact race outcomes.
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