Red Bull F1 star hit by late FIA demotion after d….read more
Red Bull-affiliated Formula 1 driver Yuki Tsunoda has faced a significant setback ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, as the FIA has announced that he will be starting the race from the pit lane. The decision came after what was already a disappointing Saturday for the 25-year-old Japanese driver, who recorded the slowest lap time in qualifying at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Initially set to start from the back of the grid, Tsunoda’s situation has been made worse by this late penalty, which now forces him to begin the race from the pit lane, isolating him from the rest of the pack at lights out.
Tsunoda’s qualifying performance was far from ideal. He was eliminated in Q1 — the first phase of the qualifying session — and failed to make any significant impact on the timing sheets. To compound matters, he ended the session with the slowest time of all 20 drivers. His struggles in Barcelona came as a surprise to many, given the encouraging signs he had shown earlier in the season and his consistent midfield performances that have occasionally put him in points-scoring positions.
Despite this, starting from the back row is not always considered a total disaster in Formula 1. Drivers in this position can occasionally benefit from chaos in the midfield or early incidents, and strategic flexibility often gives them a chance to work their way up the order. However, starting from the pit lane changes that dynamic entirely. Unlike a traditional grid start, where drivers can react at the same time when the lights go out, those starting from the pit lane must wait until the entire field has passed the pit exit before they are allowed to join the race. This results in a significant disadvantage, as it often leaves the pit-lane starters several seconds behind the pack by the time they are released.
The specific reason for Tsunoda’s pit-lane start has not been disclosed in full detail, but such penalties are commonly handed out due to changes made to the car under parc fermé conditions, which are not permitted after qualifying unless approved by the FIA. Teams may choose to modify setup elements such as suspension, cooling, or aero parts to prepare for different race conditions — but these changes must adhere to the regulations. If a team breaches these rules, a pit-lane start penalty is the standard consequence.
This turn of events is a blow for Tsunoda, who is trying to make a strong case for his future within the Red Bull driver system. Currently racing for RB (formerly AlphaTauri), he has often shown moments of brilliance, though inconsistency and errors have occasionally overshadowed his talent. With a highly competitive driver market and Red Bull evaluating options for future lineups, every race counts for Tsunoda’s long-term prospects in Formula 1.
As for the Spanish Grand Prix, Tsunoda will have a mountain to climb if he hopes to secure any sort of respectable result. Starting from the pit lane on a track that is notoriously difficult for overtaking will test both his skill and strategy. Nevertheless, Formula 1 has seen many unpredictable races, and with the right combination of tire strategy, pace, and possibly safety cars, Tsunoda could still recover some positions. But the challenge remains immense, and this penalty will undoubtedly be a major talking point throughout the race weekend.
