FIA Hands Yuki Tsunoda Additional Penalty for Red Flag Violation at Canadian Grand Prix
The 2025 Canadian Grand Prix weekend has been full of drama, and Red Bull Racing’s Yuki Tsunoda has now found himself at the center of controversy. Following an incident during Free Practice 3 (FP3) in Montreal, the FIA has issued the Japanese driver with an additional penalty, which will significantly impact his starting position for Sunday’s race.
The issue arose after McLaren driver Oscar Piastri triggered a red flag late in the FP3 session. Piastri had clipped the notorious “Wall of Champions,” a section of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve known for catching even the best drivers off guard. His contact with the wall resulted in visible damage to his car, scattering debris across the track. As marshals prepared to respond and the session was temporarily neutralized, all drivers were expected to reduce speed significantly and maintain position under red flag conditions.
However, Tsunoda failed to adhere to these regulations. Instead of staying behind Piastri, who was slowly making his way back to the pits in a damaged car, Tsunoda made the decision to overtake him. The Japanese driver defended his move to race stewards, claiming that he acted out of safety concerns, believing that Piastri’s car could shed more debris onto the circuit. According to Tsunoda, the overtake was not meant to gain an advantage but to avoid potential hazards.
Despite his explanation, the FIA stewards were not convinced. After a thorough review, they concluded that Tsunoda had breached Appendix H, Article 2.5.4.1 b) of the International Sporting Code, which strictly governs behavior during red flag situations. According to this rule, drivers are forbidden from overtaking unless specifically instructed or if it’s unavoidable for safety, neither of which applied in Tsunoda’s case.
As a result, Tsunoda has been handed a 10-place grid penalty, ensuring that he will start Sunday’s race from the very back of the grid. This penalty comes as a further blow after Tsunoda’s underwhelming performance in qualifying. The Red Bull driver was eliminated in Q2, only managing to clock the 11th-fastest lap time, which placed him on the edge of the top ten. With the penalty applied, he drops all the way down to the final starting slot.
In addition to the grid drop, the FIA has also imposed two penalty points on Tsunoda’s Super Licence. These points will remain on his record for a 12-month period. Although Tsunoda has no previous penalty points in the current cycle, any accumulation of 12 points within a year results in an automatic one-race suspension—a situation drivers are always keen to avoid.
This incident adds to a turbulent Canadian Grand Prix weekend that has already seen several red flags, penalties, and unexpected performances. For Tsunoda and Red Bull, the task on race day has become significantly harder, as they’ll now need to mount a comeback from the back of the field.
