The FIA has confirmed that Audi’s appeal over Yuki Tsunoda’s controversial penalty decision at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix will be heard on 25 November in Paris. The German team is challenging the stewards’ decision not to penalise the Racing Bulls driver following an additional formation lap at Monza, with the outcome potentially affecting the race classification and the Constructors’ Championship standings.
Yuki Tsunoda finished the Italian Grand Prix in tenth place, one position ahead of Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto, denying the Brazilian a championship point. Audi believes the Japanese driver should have received a stop-and-go penalty under Formula 1’s sporting regulations, and the team has now taken the matter to the FIA International Court of Appeal.
Why Audi appealed Yuki Tsunoda’s Italian GP penalty decision
The controversy arose during the restart procedure following Charles Leclerc’s accident at Monza. Yuki Tsunoda, who had replaced Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls, positioned his car incorrectly on the starting grid at the end of the formation lap. Race control subsequently instructed the drivers to complete another formation lap, but no penalty was imposed on the former Red Bull driver.
Yuki Tsunoda went on to finish tenth, while Gabriel Bortoleto crossed the line in eleventh place. The result left Audi without the final championship point available at the Italian Grand Prix, prompting the German manufacturer to challenge the stewards’ interpretation of the regulations.
Audi maintains that a driver responsible for causing an additional formation lap must start from the end of the pit lane. Under the relevant regulations, failure to comply with that requirement should result in a stop-and-go penalty.
However, the race stewards concluded that Yuki Tsunoda had not caused the additional formation lap and therefore decided against taking further action. Audi disagreed with that assessment and formally appealed the decision to the FIA.
FIA explains the regulations behind the Audi appeal
The FIA has outlined the circumstances surrounding the dispute, identifying Article B5.9.4 of the 2026 Formula 1 Sporting Regulations as the provision at the centre of Audi’s challenge.
The official statement explains the stewards’ original investigation and the subsequent appeal submitted by the German team:
“Following the race, the stewards investigated a potential breach of Article B5.9.4 of the 2026 FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations by Mr Yuki Tsunoda (driver of car number 22), which provides that any driver who has caused an additional formation lap must start from the end of the pit lane. In the event of non-compliance, the driver should be given a Stop-and-Go penalty.
“In Decision No. 69, the stewards decided to take no further action against Mr Yuki Tsunoda. On 9 September 2026, Audi Revolut F1 Team lodged an appeal against that decision, arguing that Mr Yuki Tsunoda had caused the additional formation lap and should therefore have received the prescribed Stop-and-Go penalty.”
The central question is whether Yuki Tsunoda’s incorrect positioning on the grid made him responsible for the additional formation lap. Audi argues that it did, while the stewards reached the opposite conclusion when reviewing the incident.
FIA confirms November 25 hearing as Italian GP result remains in question
The FIA has scheduled the appeal hearing for 25 November 2026 at the Court of Appeal in Paris, where the dispute over the stewards’ decision will be examined.
The outcome could have implications beyond the final positions of Yuki Tsunoda and Gabriel Bortoleto. Should Audi succeed in its appeal and the classification be amended in its favour, the German team could recover the championship point it missed at Monza.
That additional point would reduce Audi’s deficit to Haas, currently seventh in the Formula 1 championship standings, to just two points in the Constructors’ Championship battle.
Until the appeal is resolved, however, the original Italian Grand Prix classification remains unchanged, with Yuki Tsunoda tenth and Gabriel Bortoleto eleventh.
Related Formula 1 news
- 2026 Italian Grand Prix results: full finishing order from Monza
- 2026 Italian GP qualifying results and complete Monza classification
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