Yuki Tsunoda has received a 10-place grid drop following a breach of red-flag rules in the Free Practice 3 session at the Canadian Grand Prix weekend. Despite qualifying 11th fastest, the Red Bull Racing driver will now start at the rear of the grid and has been handed two penalty points on his Super License.
Details of the Incident Leading to Tsunoda’s Penalty
The penalty arose after the third free practice session was halted due to a crash involving Oscar Piastri at Turn 14. Piastri’s collision caused damage to his wheel and scattered debris across the track, forcing a red flag to stop the session immediately. At that moment, Tsunoda was navigating through Turn 6.
Though Tsunoda reduced his speed as required, he subsequently overtook Piastri near Turn 12 while the latter was moving slowly on the left side of the track. Tsunoda explained to the stewards that he felt compelled to pass due to concerns that debris near Piastri’s car could hit him.
Telemetry showed that Car 81 was travelling at 86kph when Car 22 overtook at a speed of 171kph,
the FIA ruling read.
Consequences and Impact on Tsunoda’s Canadian Grand Prix Weekend
This penalty not only pushes Tsunoda to start at the back but also adds pressure on his race performance in Canada. Adding penalty points to his Super License increases the stakes in upcoming events. The sanction reflects the FIA’s strict adherence to safety protocols during red-flag situations, reinforcing the importance of compliance by all drivers.
