Tsunoda gets hefty fine from FIA after 'inappropriate comment' over radio

Yuki Tsunoda has been heavily fined by the FIA for swearing on the team radio of Visa Cash App RB. The Japanese driver expressed his dissatisfaction with other Formula 1 drivers who, in his opinion, were driving in his way and were not getting away with it.

"These guys are f****** retarded," Tsunoda echoed on the team radio after being overtaken in pit lane by Guanyu Zhou. The VCARB driver was asked to come and explain his comment to the stewards. They decided to impose a hefty fine of 40,000 euros, of which 20,000 was conditional. So Tsunoda will have to restrain himself on the team radio if he does not want to get another €20,000 fine.

Once with the stewards, Tsunoda immediately apologised. He also stated that he did not know the true meaning of the English word "retard". By his own admission, he was horrified when he found this out. Nevertheless, Tsunoda stated that he did not want to use this as an excuse. The stewards understand the RB driver's explanation but stress that such use of words is "wholly inappropriate".