FIA Enforces Late Penalty for Yuki Tsunoda Ahead of Miami GP Sprint Race
Yuki Tsunoda will face a significant setback at the Miami Grand Prix sprint race after being hit with a late penalty that forces him to start from the pit lane. The FIA confirmed the decision on Saturday, following unauthorized changes made to his car after Friday’s sprint qualifying session.
The Japanese driver, who currently races for RB (Red Bull’s sister team), had already endured a difficult sprint qualifying session, failing to progress beyond SQ1. He initially qualified in 18th position—second to last on the grid. However, the situation worsened after his team made alterations to his car’s suspension setup while it was under parc fermé conditions. This action violated Article 40.9 (b) of the FIA’s Sporting Regulations, triggering an automatic penalty.
Under current Formula 1 rules, parc fermé conditions begin once the car leaves the pit lane for qualifying and continue until the start of the race (or sprint session, in this case). Any modifications to the car’s configuration during this period are strictly prohibited unless authorized by the FIA under specific exceptions. As stated in the regulations: “If the parc fermé conditions are breached before the start of the sprint session, the relevant driver must start the sprint session from the pit lane.”
As a result of the infraction, Tsunoda will now line up behind all 19 other drivers for Saturday’s sprint race. It’s a frustrating blow for the 24-year-old, who has shown promise in the early part of the 2025 season but is still finding consistency with his new machinery.
Frustration in Sprint Qualifying
Tsunoda was visibly frustrated after his disappointing sprint qualifying performance, where he failed to clock a competitive lap in SQ1. Speaking to the media afterward, he attributed his failure to poor communication with the team and unfortunate timing on the track.
“Some intelligent car just came out from the pit and I had to abort my lap,” Tsunoda said. “A lot of cars cost my lap quite a lot.”
He explained that during his final attempt to set a competitive lap time, he encountered heavy traffic and had to abandon the effort altogether. A car exiting the pit lane disrupted his entry into Turn 1, and a subsequent lock-up at the final corner sealed the fate of what he described as a ruined lap.
“First lap… yeah, to be honest, that’s it,” he continued. “In the last corner I had quite a lock-up, but to be honest, the lap was pretty gone already from Turn 1 because of the car at pit exit. Just wasn’t able to do a proper lap at all, so that’s it.”
A Difficult Weekend for Tsunoda and RB
Tsunoda’s demotion to the pit lane is the latest challenge in what has been a tough weekend for the RB team. While Tsunoda has had flashes of pace throughout the 2025 season and has delivered some strong results, the Miami sprint format proved especially punishing for any slip-ups.
With limited time and a condensed qualifying session, any issues—be it traffic, miscommunication, or setup problems—are heavily magnified. The team’s decision to alter the suspension settings may have been a last-ditch effort to improve performance, but it ultimately backfired.
Despite the setback, Tsunoda remains focused on the bigger picture as he continues to adapt to changes within the team and car this season. He has shown improved maturity and racecraft in recent Grands Prix and will aim to use the rest of the Miami weekend to recover lost ground.
Outlook for the Sprint and Grand Prix
Starting from the pit lane in a sprint race is far from ideal, especially at a circuit like Miami, where overtaking opportunities can be limited due to the street-style layout and unpredictable grip levels. However, with the sprint offering fewer laps and more strategic freedom, there is still a slim chance for Tsunoda to salvage something if the race sees chaos, retirements, or variable weather conditions.
More importantly, the sprint performance will serve as a testbed for the main event on Sunday. Any data gathered can be used to improve the car’s setup for the Grand Prix, where championship points are on offer. Tsunoda and the RB team will be hoping that lessons learned from this costly regulation breach help them avoid similar issues in the future.
