Audi to appeal decision that left Tsunoda’s Italian GP result unchanged

Audi plans to appeal the Formula One stewards’ decision that left the team outside the points at Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix in Monza. Racing Bulls stand-in Yuki Tsunoda finished 10th after stewards took no further action over an extra formation lap caused by the position of his car during a restart.

An Audi spokesman said the team had lodged its intention to appeal and that the case would now move through the FIA appeal process. Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto finished 11th, followed by teammate Nico Hulkenberg in 12th.

Normally, a driver who causes an extra formation lap must complete it from the pit lane and faces a mandatory stop-and-go penalty if he does not. Tsunoda continued as normal and received no sanction.

“

Car 22 approached the grid initially heading for the left hand side of the grid, then realising he was headed for the wrong grid position, the driver changed direction and positioned his car in the correct grid box and in the correct position within the grid box.

The stewards said Tsunoda initially approached the grid toward the left-hand side, then realized he was heading for the wrong position. He changed direction and placed the car in the correct grid box and position. Race director Rui Marques said he aborted the start because of the car’s behavior as it approached the grid box.

Racing Bulls argued that neither the team nor Tsunoda had been told they were responsible for the decision. The stewards noted that no message had been sent to them, while saying Marques had acted in good faith and out of an abundance of caution.

“

The team representative quoted situations where extra formation laps have been commenced due to extraneous circumstances such as the position of a photographer etc.