Tsunoda Faces 10-Place Grid Penalty Ahead of Canadian Grand Prix
Yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull Racing will start the Canadian Grand Prix from the back of the grid following a significant 10-place penalty imposed by the stewards. The penalty stems from Tsunoda’s decision to overtake Oscar Piastri during a red flag situation in third practice at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Piastri had just sustained a puncture and suspension damage after hitting the ‘wall of champions.’
While Piastri returned slowly to the pits at approximately 86 km/h, Tsunoda overtook him at a speed of 171 km/h, prompting the stewards’ intervention. Under current regulations, overtaking is prohibited during red flag conditions. Tsunoda expressed his frustration, stating, "I’m not really sure I deserve that penalty because I don’t know what they want me to do."
Tsunoda argued he was compelled to act due to safety concerns regarding potential debris from Piastri’s vehicle. He elaborated, "Waiting for Oscar to pit behind the damaged car… for me it’s just waiting for debris to hit me."
In addition to the penalty, Tsunoda received two points on his superlicence. This incident compounds a challenging season for the driver, who has secured only seven points since his promotion to Red Bull in April.
Despite qualifying 11th, Tsunoda’s penalty means he will be starting in 20th place. He reflected on his performance, saying, "Considering the circumstances, P11 is not the worst probably. Obviously it’s not good enough at all." The situation represents a continued struggle for Tsunoda at Red Bull, causing concern for both himself and the team as they look to regain competitiveness in the championship.
