Tsunoda confused by “ridiculous” 10-place grid penalty for F1 Canadian GP

Red Bull racer Yuki Tsunoda has criticised the decision to award him a 10-place grid penalty for Formula 1’s Canadian Grand Prix which means he will start Sunday’s race in last.

The Japanese driver was penalised for passing Oscar Piastri under red flag conditions in third practice at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. Piastri caused the red flag after suffering a puncture and suspension damage when he tapped the ‘wall of champions’ at the final chicane.

As championship leader Piastri trundled back to the pits in his McLaren, Tsunoda overtook him down the back straight approaching Turn 12. Tsunoda claimed that he was worried about being struck by debris coming from Piastri’s car following the incident.

However, the stewards took a dim view of Tsunoda move, which saw him skirt past the Australian at 171km/h while Piastri was only going 86km/h. 

But Tsunoda claimed “I’m not really sure I deserve that penalty because I don’t know what they want me to do”.

“Obviously I saw Oscar driving far left and I understand that under the red flag you can’t overtake,” he added. “But waiting for Oscar to pit behind the damaged car, for me it’s just waiting for debris to hit me.

“I saw the tyre was going sideways and I thought the tyre was going to fly away. Obviously I knew that, so I went far right. I checked the car ahead of Oscar, the car behind myself, make sure there’s no one. I went far left, opposite way to overtake him with a sensible speed which was 170kmh.

“Half the speed of the speed that we normally drive and I got a penalty. So having 10-place is ridiculous for me. I don’t know what they want me to do.

“Apparently they want me to stay behind Oscar to not overtake. But for me it’s just hoping that debris won’t hit me.

“I don’t understand with this, especially the car having damage, driving very slow. I don’t think I deserve this 10 place [penalty].”

Tsunoda, who has only scored seven points since he was promoted to Red Bull from Racing Bulls at the Japanese Grand Prix in April, has also been issued with two penalty points on his superlicence. 

He will start Sunday’s race in last after qualifying 11th, which continues his disappointing start to life at Red Bull.

“Yeah, it’s very frustrating,” added Tsunoda. “Considering that, with circumstances, what’s happening in P3. P11 is not the worst probably.

“Obviously it’s not good enough at all. But, it’s not a P20 again. I don’t normally start like this, P20, that often.

“Last two years at least especially. It’s not an experience that I’m enjoying at all. But it is what it is. Time to make the position up.”