Tsunoda summoned by stewards for restart infringement at Italian Grand Prix

Yuki Tsunoda has been summoned before the FIA race stewards following an alleged start procedure infringement during the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, with Racing Bulls also called to the stewards’ office to answer for the incident.

The issue arose on the lap 6 restart, which itself followed a red flag triggered by Charles Leclerc’s accident on lap 2. Tsunoda, starting 14th, appeared to park outside his designated grid box as he took up his position on the grid. Race control flagged a potential problem immediately but stewards chose to defer the investigation until after the race, citing an “alleged breach of Article B5.9.4 of the FIA F1 Regulations – Start Procedure infringement at 15:41.”

Tsunoda himself acknowledged the confusion but maintained he did not gain a meaningful advantage. “I was a bit confused starting between 14 and 15,” he said. “In my view, I didn’t really gain the position before the red flag. I thought I was 15th. But at least I parked behind the box, pretty far, so I don’t think I gained any advantage for that. So let’s see. I hope everything is okay.”

The incident came on an otherwise encouraging afternoon for the Japanese driver, who finished tenth to claim his first championship point of the 2025 campaign. His Racing Bulls team-mate Arvid Lindblad went one better, crossing the line eighth after a slipstreaming battle through Monza’s high-speed layout.

Tsunoda is back at Racing Bulls in a deputising role after losing his regular seat at the end of last season. He became Red Bull’s reserve driver before returning to his former team to cover for Liam Lawson, who stepped up to Red Bull Racing to replace the injured Isack Hadjar.