Audi protests Italian GP result after Tsunoda restart incident – Audi has announced its intention to protest the result of the Italian Grand Prix after claiming Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda benefited from a rules violation during a race restart.
Tsunoda finished 10th at Monza, while Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto crossed the line 11th, meaning a successful protest could hand the German manufacturer an additional World Championship point.
Tsunoda’s mistake triggers second formation lap
The controversy began following Charles Leclerc’s serious accident, when Tsunoda was preparing to restart the race from 15th place.
The Racing Bulls substitute driver moved into starting position 14 at the last moment but ended up sideways in his starting box. The incident contributed to the start being aborted, with the field instructed to complete another formation lap before attempting the restart.
Audi believes Tsunoda should then have been required to start from the pit lane rather than returning to his position on the grid.
What the regulations say
The relevant Formula 1 regulations state that when a driver is responsible for a second formation lap being required because of their own error, and participates in that additional lap, they must enter the pit lane at its conclusion.
The driver must then take the restart from the pit lane.
Tsunoda did not do this. Instead, he returned to 14th place on the starting grid after completing the second formation lap, allowing him to continue the race from his original position.
The stewards investigated the incident during the Grand Prix but ultimately decided that no penalty was warranted.
Stewards reject responsibility for Tsunoda
According to the stewards’ decision, the additional formation lap was caused by the race director’s decision to exercise caution rather than directly by Tsunoda’s slide in the starting box.
The stewards also found no fault with the Racing Bulls pit wall. As a result, the team was not considered to have had a reason to instruct Tsunoda to enter the pit lane before the restart.
That decision has now become the subject of Audi’s protest.
Audi targets crucial championship point
Audi confirmed on Sunday that it intends to formally challenge the stewards’ decision. The team has 96 hours from the announcement to officially lodge its protest with the FIA.
If Audi’s challenge is successful, the result of the Italian Grand Prix could be altered and Bortoleto could move into the points.
Tsunoda finished 10th at Monza, securing one World Championship point, while Bortoleto narrowly missed out in 11th.
Audi is therefore hoping that a successful protest will overturn the decision and award Bortoleto the point currently held by Tsunoda.
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