Audi challenges FIA after Tsunoda escapes penalty that cost Bortoleto a point at Monza

Audi has lodged a formal intention to appeal with the FIA after stewards declined to penalise Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda for his role in an extra formation lap during the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, a verdict that directly cost Gabriel Bortoleto a championship point.

The incident occurred on lap six of the race, when confusion arose over Tsunoda’s grid position during a restart. The Japanese driver parked in his correct 14th slot but at an angle towards the inside wall. Race director Rui Marques, describing himself as “not comfortable” with the position, ordered an additional formation lap.

Under Article B5.9.4 of the 2026 F1 sporting regulations, any driver who causes an extra formation lap must enter the pit lane at the end of that lap and restart from its end. However, the stewards ruled that Tsunoda had not technically caused the extra lap — concluding that the race director had acted out of an abundance of caution, that Tsunoda was not outside his grid slot, and that he had not impacted other competitors. Crucially, race control had also not informed Racing Bulls that their driver had triggered the extra lap, meaning the team had no grounds to instruct Tsunoda to pit.

Tsunoda avoided a stop-and-go penalty and went on to finish 10th, taking the final point on offer. Bortoleto crossed the line in 11th, one position and one point behind.

“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 Stewards issued a decision of No Further Action, and we have notified our intention to appeal. As the matter is now subject to the FIA appeal process, we will not comment further at this stage.”

In their verdict, the stewards wrote that “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.”

Under Article 15.4 of the FIA’s International Sporting Code, teams have one hour after a stewards’ decision to file a notice of intention to appeal. That notification does not constitute a full appeal; it opens a 96-hour window in which Audi can study the case further before deciding whether to proceed. The team has not yet confirmed it will follow through.