Audi to appeal after Yuki Tsunoda escapes penalty at Italian Grand Prix

Confusion arose before the start at Monza when Tsunoda initially approached the left-hand side of the grid before realising he was heading towards the wrong starting position. He changed direction and eventually stopped his Racing Bulls in the correct grid box and in the correct position within it, something the stewards verified using footage from several camera angles.

Race Control nevertheless ordered an additional formation lap. During the subsequent hearing, the Race Director explained that it was his decision to do so because of Tsunoda's behaviour while approaching his grid box.

The stewards' document states: "He stated he was not comfortable starting the race with the car in that position."

The incident raised questions over Article B5.9.4 of the Formula 1 regulations. The stewards explained that if a driver causes an extra formation lap and is able to begin that lap, they must enter the pit lane at the end of it and start the race from there. Failure to do so carries a mandatory stop-and-go penalty.

Tsunoda did not enter the pit lane. Racing Bulls, however, argued that its driver had been legally positioned inside his grid box, had not affected another driver and had never been informed by Race Control that he was considered responsible for the extra formation lap.

The stewards accepted those arguments, concluding: "The extra formation lap resulted from the Race Director’s assessment of the situation, rather than being directly caused by the driver of Car 22."

They also highlighted a problem with applying the regulation in this situation. For Tsunoda to know that he was required to enter the pit lane, he and Racing Bulls would first have needed to know that Race Control considered him responsible for causing the extra formation lap.

No such message was sent to either the driver or the team. The stewards therefore concluded: "We determine that we are unable to impose a Stop and Go penalty in this case, and decide to take no further action."

The stewards also suggested the FIA could introduce a process to explicitly notify teams and drivers when they are deemed responsible for an additional formation lap, allowing them to comply with Article B5.9.4.

Audi is not satisfied with that interpretation and has now confirmed its intention to appeal the decision.

"Following the Italian Grand Prix, we raised a concern regarding the application of Article B5.9.4, which requires a driver who causes an extra formation lap to enter the pit lane and resume the race from there," Audi said in a statement.

The matter could therefore continue beyond the Italian Grand Prix, with the stewards' original decision explicitly reminding competitors of their right to appeal certain decisions under the FIA International Sporting Code and Judicial and Disciplinary Rules.