Just in: F1 team Launch major Appeal After Italian GP as F1 team express dissatisfaction over FIA Penalty…Read more

Audi have launched a major appeal against an FIA stewards’ decision following the dramatic 2026 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, with the team challenging the decision not to penalise Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda.
The controversy emerged during the restart procedure following Charles Leclerc’s crash, which brought out the red flags and forced the field to prepare for a standing restart. Tsunoda, who was competing for Racing Bulls, initially appeared to move towards the wrong grid position before correcting his line and eventually stopping in his designated 14th-place slot.
Race control was not satisfied with the positioning of Tsunoda’s car and ordered an additional formation lap before the race could resume. Under the relevant sporting regulations, a driver deemed responsible for an extra formation lap can be required to enter the pit lane and start from the back.
However, the FIA stewards ultimately decided against applying a penalty to Tsunoda.
Tsunoda went on to finish 10th, securing the final championship point, while Audi drivers Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg finished 11th and 12th respectively. The result meant that Audi narrowly missed out on a valuable point, prompting the team to challenge the decision.
Audi subsequently notified the FIA of its intention to appeal the stewards’ ruling. Formula 1 confirmed that the German manufacturer believes the decision warrants further examination.
The stewards acknowledged that Tsunoda’s actions contributed to the additional formation lap, but several factors were considered before deciding that no sporting penalty should be imposed. Among them was the fact that Tsunoda had ultimately corrected his position and that neither he nor Racing Bulls had been informed that they were considered responsible for the extra lap at the time.
The case could therefore have implications beyond Audi’s battle for points. A successful appeal could potentially alter the classification from the Italian Grand Prix and change the championship points awarded to the drivers involved.
The FIA has yet to announce the final outcome of Audi’s appeal. Until the appeal process is concluded, Tsunoda’s 10th-place result remains officially recorded.
The incident adds another layer of controversy to an already dramatic Monza weekend, with the FIA once again facing scrutiny over the consistency with which Formula 1’s sporting regulations are applied.
For Audi, the appeal represents an opportunity to fight for the point it believes should have been available to Bortoleto, while for Racing Bulls and Tsunoda, the decision could still have consequences after the chequered flag.