Audi has notified the FIA that it intends to appeal the stewards’ decision not to penalize Yuki Tsunoda at the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday (6). Had the Racing Bulls driver received a penalty, Gabriel Bortoleto, who finished 11th, could have moved into the points.
Following the red flag caused by Charles Leclerc’s heavy crash at the Parabolica, the field was required to complete another formation lap before a second standing start.
Tsunoda, drafted back into Racing Bulls because of Isack Hadjar’s absence at Monza, initially approached the grid on the wrong side before making a late correction and moving his VCARB 03 into the correct row. The move left the car incorrectly positioned as the field prepared for the restart.
Race control announced during the race that the incident would be investigated after the chequered flag. However, rather than penalizing Tsunoda, the stewards cleared him of responsibility for the additional formation lap, allowing him to retain 10th place.
According to the FIA decision, the stewards found that Tsunoda eventually placed the car “in the correct grid area and in the correct position within it.” Video footage from multiple camera angles was used to establish the car’s final position.
The race director told the stewards that ordering an additional formation lap was his decision, based on the way Tsunoda’s car approached the grid. He said he was not comfortable starting the race with the car in that position.
The Racing Bulls representative argued that the car was never in a false-start position under Article B5.1.1c because none of the front tyres were outside the front or lateral lines defining the grid slot.
The team also pointed out that the race director had told drivers during the briefing that the pit-lane walls would define the limits for the restart. Although Tsunoda’s car was pointing toward the right, the team argued that there was at least four metres of space to leave the starting position.
The stewards also noted that no other driver was affected by the position of Tsunoda’s car and that he was not considered the “cause” of the additional formation lap during the race.
Why Tsunoda avoided a penalty
The FIA decision focused on a crucial distinction in the regulations.
Had Tsunoda been deemed responsible for causing the additional formation lap, Article B5.9.4 would have required him to enter the pit lane at the end of that lap and start the race from there.
The regulation states that a driver who causes an additional formation lap and completes it must enter the pit lane before the restart. A mandatory Stop-and-Go penalty would apply only if the driver failed to do so.
That created a problem for the stewards: Tsunoda and Racing Bulls had never been informed that the driver was considered responsible for triggering the additional lap.
The team argued that additional formation laps can be caused by circumstances unrelated to a driver, such as an obstruction on the grid, and that there was no message from race control telling Racing Bulls that Tsunoda had been identified as the cause.
The stewards agreed.
“Based on the fact that the car was positioned within its grid slot in compliance with the regulations,” the FIA document stated, the team had no reason to instruct Tsunoda to enter the pit lane and start from there.
The stewards therefore concluded that neither Tsunoda nor Racing Bulls knew they were being considered responsible for the additional formation lap. As a result, they ruled that a Stop-and-Go penalty could not be applied and took no further action.
The document also stated that the race director had acted “in good faith” and with “an abundance of caution” when ordering the additional formation lap.
Audi will appeal
Audi was unhappy with the decision and issued a short statement confirming that it intends to challenge the ruling.
The timing is significant for Bortoleto. The Audi driver finished 11th at Monza, just seven seconds behind Tsunoda, meaning a penalty for the Racing Bulls driver would have potentially moved him into the points.
Bortoleto had started 10th and remained in contention for a top-10 finish, although Audi ultimately admitted that poor starts complicated the race for both of its drivers.
“Following the Italian Grand Prix, we raised a concern regarding the application of Article B5.9.4, which states that a driver who causes an additional formation lap must enter the pit lane and resume the race from there,” Audi said.
“The stewards issued a decision of ‘no further action’, and we have notified our intention to appeal. As the matter is now subject to the FIA appeal process, we will make no further comments at this stage.”
The appeal means the final implications of the Tsunoda incident remain open, although the Japanese driver currently retains 10th place in the official Italian GP classification.
Formula 1 now heads to Madrid for the Spanish Grand Prix from September 11-13, with the championship moving to the new Madring street circuit for the 14th round of the 2026 season. GRANDE PRÊMIO will follow all the action from the new venue.
FAQ
Can Gabriel Bortoleto still gain a point from the Italian GP?
Potentially, yes. Audi has notified the FIA of its intention to appeal the stewards’ decision concerning Yuki Tsunoda. Bortoleto finished 11th, seven seconds behind Tsunoda, so the outcome of the appeal could affect the final classification if a penalty is ultimately imposed.
What happens if a driver causes an extra formation lap in F1?
Under Article B5.9.4, a driver who causes an additional formation lap and completes it must enter the pit lane and start from there. A mandatory Stop-and-Go penalty applies if the driver fails to do so. The Italian GP case centers on whether Tsunoda was actually responsible for the extra lap and whether Racing Bulls had been informed of that responsibility.
When is the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix?
The Spanish Grand Prix takes place from September 11-13, 2026, at Madrid’s new Madring street circuit. It will be the first F1 race at the new venue and the 14th round of the 2026 championship.
