Audi is pressing ahead with its challenge against the decision not to penalise Yuki Tsunoda at the Italian Grand Prix, a case that could ultimately promote Gabriel Bortoleto into the points at Monza. The German manufacturer believes the 2026 Formula 1 Sporting Regulations required the Racing Bulls driver to enter the pit lane after he was considered responsible for an extra formation lap.
According to Motorsport.com, Audi intends to proceed with an appeal against the stewards’ decision not to punish Yuki Tsunoda following the unusual restart procedure at Monza.
Audi challenges Yuki Tsunoda’s Monza non-penalty
During the Italian Grand Prix, Yuki Tsunoda lined up awkwardly in his grid position, with the Racing Bulls angled towards the pit wall. Race director Rui Marques, after seeing the position of the car, interrupted the starting procedure and ordered an additional formation lap.
The stewards investigated the incident after the race but decided not to impose the penalty normally associated with such a situation. A stop-and-go penalty would have been converted into a 30-second time penalty because it could no longer be served during the Grand Prix.
Article B5.9.4 of the 2026 Formula 1 Sporting Regulations states: “Any driver who caused an extra formation lap, and is then able to start the, or any subsequent, extra formation lap must enter the Pit Lane at the end of the lap and must start the TTCS from the end of the Pit Lane as specified in B5.3.”
Under that provision, Audi believes Yuki Tsunoda should therefore have returned to the pit lane and started from there.
Why the FIA stewards decided not to penalise Tsunoda
Racing Bulls argued that Yuki Tsunoda was not outside his designated grid position and had not affected any of his rivals. Rui Marques also explained that his decision to order another formation lap had been taken out of an abundance of caution.
Crucially, Racing Bulls had not been informed by race control that Yuki Tsunoda was being regarded as the cause of the additional formation lap. The team therefore had no reason to tell the Japanese driver that he was required to enter the pit lane.
The stewards accepted that reasoning and took no further action, allowing Yuki Tsunoda to retain 10th place and the final championship point available at Monza.
Gabriel Bortoleto could inherit final Monza point
The matter initially appeared to be closed, but Audi decided to challenge the outcome because the team could gain a World Championship point if Yuki Tsunoda is demoted. Gabriel Bortoleto finished the Italian Grand Prix in 11th place, immediately behind the Racing Bulls driver.
A reversal of the decision would therefore move Gabriel Bortoleto into 10th and add one point to Audi’s championship total, potentially affecting the battle further down the 2026 Formula 1 standings.
Audi first notified the FIA of its intention to appeal, giving the team a 96-hour period in which to prepare its case and decide whether to proceed. That window expires on Thursday evening, but team sources have confirmed to Motorsport.com that Audi intends to go ahead with the appeal.
Audi believes Formula 1 regulation leaves little room for interpretation
Audi’s position is that the regulation is clear and should not be open to interpretation. From the Hinwil team’s perspective, the decisive point is that the race director interrupted the starting procedure and ordered an additional formation lap because of Yuki Tsunoda’s positioning.
Audi therefore believes that, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the decision, Yuki Tsunoda should have been required to enter the pit lane at the end of the extra formation lap and start from there.
The case is not solely about whether Audi can gain a point from the Italian Grand Prix. Even if the appeal does not result in Yuki Tsunoda’s classification being changed, the team also wants clarification from the FIA and the stewards about how Article B5.9.4 should be applied in similar situations in the future.
The outcome could therefore provide an important precedent for how Formula 1 handles extra formation laps when the driver considered responsible has not been explicitly informed that the requirement to start from the pit lane applies.
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