Breaking:FIA Issues 20-Place Grid Penalty to red bull star After…read more 

FIA Issues 20-Place Grid Penalty to red bull star After…read more 

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing’s Japanese Formula 1 driver, has been hit with a significant 20-place grid penalty ahead of the Imola Grand Prix, following a dramatic crash during qualifying. The FIA confirmed the penalty after Tsunoda’s vehicle required substantial repairs, including the installation of new power unit components, which triggered the steep sanction.

The incident occurred during qualifying at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit, where Tsunoda suffered a violent crash. The 25-year-old lost control of his car at high speed near the Villeneuve corner, shortly after navigating through Tamburello. His car flipped and struck the barriers before coming to rest upside down, creating a terrifying scene for onlookers. Fortunately, Tsunoda emerged from the crash without any serious injuries and was declared medically fit to race on Sunday.

However, the damage sustained by his car was extensive, necessitating a rebuild and component changes that fall outside of the permitted allowances. According to the FIA, Red Bull had to replace the control electronics and the energy store within the Honda power unit. These modifications were made under parc fermé conditions, which automatically invokes penalties because teams are restricted from making major changes to the cars after qualifying without receiving a grid penalty.

Each of these power unit changes comes with a 10-place grid drop, adding up to a 20-place penalty. Despite the severe punishment, the immediate impact on Tsunoda’s starting position is minimal — he had already failed to register a lap time during qualifying due to the crash, meaning he was set to start at the back of the grid in 20th place regardless.

However, further complicating matters, Tsunoda’s car rebuild included parts and changes that will result in him starting the race from the pit lane rather than the grid. This is an added setback that makes his prospects of scoring points in the race even more unlikely.

The FIA outlined the situation in their post-qualifying bulletin, stating: “The use of each additional element in this case carries a 10 grid place penalty, therefore there is an accumulation of 20 places.” Since Tsunoda was already at the back of the grid, the penalty ultimately results in a mandatory pit lane start.

For Tsunoda, Sunday’s race will be an uphill battle. With a rebuilt car, no qualifying time, and a pit lane start, scoring any points at Imola would be considered an extraordinary feat. Still, fans will be relieved that the driver is uninjured and ready to compete, and the team will focus on salvaging what they can from what has already been a challenging race weekend.