FIA Reprimands Yuki Tsunoda Following Pit Lane Incident at Bahrain Grand Prix
Yuki Tsunoda has received his first official reprimand of the 2025 Formula 1 season following a controversial pit lane incident during Free Practice 1 at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The FIA stewards took action against the recently promoted Red Bull driver after he was found to have illegally overtaken Williams’ Alex Albon in the pit lane, an area governed by strict safety regulations.
Tsunoda, who made the step up from Red Bull’s sister team, Racing Bulls, to the main Red Bull outfit ahead of the Bahrain weekend, had a rocky start to his new chapter. The session not only exposed his struggles with performance—he was notably slower than Liam Lawson, the driver he replaced—but also saw him draw the attention of race stewards for questionable behavior in the pits.
The most talked-about moment came when Tsunoda overtook Albon as the Williams driver was pulling out of his garage. Such maneuvers are prohibited under F1’s pit lane conduct rules due to the limited space and safety concerns. The incident triggered an immediate investigation by the FIA, and Tsunoda, Albon, and team representatives were summoned for a hearing. Video footage and pit lane data were carefully reviewed before a final decision was made.
Adding to the drama, Tsunoda made a separate error earlier in the session. He appeared to forget he was now driving for Red Bull and mistakenly passed his new team’s pit box, heading towards the Racing Bulls garage instead. While no penalties were handed out for this particular miscue, it highlighted his ongoing adaptation to the new team environment.
Following the stewards’ review, the FIA issued a formal reprimand to Tsunoda. The verdict stated that although Red Bull had not released him in an unsafe manner, Tsunoda should not have attempted the overtake in the first place. In his defense, Tsunoda explained that he feared locking up and potentially colliding with Albon if he braked suddenly. While the stewards acknowledged his concern, they ultimately ruled that he bore the responsibility to avoid such a move in the narrow and regulated confines of the pit lane.
The FIA emphasized that overtaking in the pit lane is only permitted under exceptional circumstances, which this incident did not meet. The governing body also referenced recent similar situations, including several from the Japanese Grand Prix, to reinforce its zero-tolerance stance on pit lane overtakes.
While Tsunoda escaped more severe penalties such as a time deduction or grid position drop, the reprimand is a warning sign. In Formula 1, multiple reprimands over a season can accumulate and lead to harsher consequences, including grid penalties. This makes it vital for the Japanese driver to tread carefully going forward.
The incident has also drawn attention to the broader challenges drivers face when switching teams mid-season. Tsunoda’s early missteps suggest that adapting to Red Bull’s high-pressure and performance-driven culture may take more time than expected. Red Bull has a reputation for demanding excellence from its drivers, and every mistake is closely scrutinized, leaving little margin for error.
As the 2025 season progresses, Tsunoda will be under increased pressure to find consistency and avoid further disciplinary issues. His ability to settle into the Red Bull team, deliver strong results, and avoid further infractions will be closely watched by fans, critics, and team management alike. For now, the Bahrain Grand Prix serves as both a challenging debut and a crucial learning moment in Tsunoda’s career at the top level of Formula 1.
