Breaking:FIA Grants Yuki Tsunoda Permission After Confirming His Health Is..read more
FIA Grants Yuki Tsunoda Permission After Confirming His Health Is..read more
The FIA has issued an official ruling following a request submitted by the Red Bull Formula 1 team, confirming that Yuki Tsunoda will be permitted to start the 2025 Imola Grand Prix despite failing to record a qualifying time. The decision comes after a dramatic crash during qualifying on Saturday, which left Tsunoda’s participation in the race in question.
This weekend marks the seventh round of the 2025 Formula 1 season, taking place in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is aiming for his second win of the campaign after a strong performance during qualifying. The team has had a rocky start to the season overall, however, securing just one Grand Prix victory so far and already making changes to their driver lineup.
In a significant mid-season switch, Red Bull replaced Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda following the Japanese Grand Prix, giving the latter a shot at the challenging second seat alongside Verstappen. Despite his experience, Tsunoda has found it difficult to get fully comfortable in the RB21. So far, his best performance has been a ninth-place finish in Bahrain. The pressure is mounting on team principal Christian Horner and senior advisor Helmut Marko, who are eager to boost the team’s standing in the Constructors’ Championship.
Red Bull is currently sitting third in the standings and needs consistent point-scoring results to challenge their rivals. Tsunoda’s crash during Saturday’s qualifying session was a major setback. The incident occurred in Q1, where the Japanese driver lost control after aggressively riding the kerb, leading to a terrifying flip of the car into the safety fence. Fortunately, Red Bull confirmed shortly afterward that Tsunoda was unharmed in the incident.
Due to the crash, Tsunoda did not set a qualifying time, initially ruling him out of contention for the race. However, Red Bull lodged an official request with the FIA to allow Tsunoda to start Sunday’s race despite his failure to complete a lap in Q1. The team cited his satisfactory lap times during practice sessions as justification for the request.
On Sunday morning, the FIA released a formal statement granting Red Bull’s request. According to the stewards, the decision aligns with Article 39.4 b) of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations, which allows a driver to start the race if they have shown competitive pace during practice. The FIA confirmed that Tsunoda will be allowed to join the starting grid, rather than being forced to begin the race from the pit lane.
The statement read: “The stewards have received a request from Oracle Red Bull Racing to allow car 22 to start the race despite failing to set a lap time in Q1. In accordance with Article 39.4 b) of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations, the stewards grant permission for car 22, Yuki Tsunoda, to start the race, as the driver has set satisfactory times in practice at this competition. The car will be placed on the grid in accordance with Article 42.1 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations.”
As a result of the ruling, Tsunoda will officially begin the Imola Grand Prix from the 20th position on the grid. While starting at the back presents a major challenge, the opportunity to participate in the race provides a crucial chance for Red Bull to score additional points and for Tsunoda to prove himself in what remains a fiercely competitive seat.
With the race day underway, all eyes will be on both Red Bull drivers. Verstappen looks to close the gap in the championship race, while Tsunoda faces the tough task of climbing through the field after his qualifying setback.
