George Russell and Yuki Tsunoda Penalized After Sprint Qualifying Incident at Belgian Grand Prix
Both George Russell of Mercedes and Yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull were issued reprimands following an investigation by the FIA after sprint qualifying ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix. The two drivers were summoned by the stewards on the grounds of driving unnecessarily slowly during the session, which was deemed to be in violation of the Race Director’s Event Notes and the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations.
According to the summons, Russell and Tsunoda allegedly breached Article 33.4 of the FIA’s regulations, which stipulates that drivers must respect certain times and conditions when driving during qualifying and practice sessions. In addition, both drivers failed to comply with item 1 of the Race Director’s Event Notes, which further outlines specific guidelines regarding driver behavior during qualifying rounds.
This marks the first reprimand for Mercedes driver George Russell this season, indicating that he has generally maintained a clean record until now. For Tsunoda, however, this is his second reprimand of the year, as he previously faced a similar penalty earlier in the season. The ruling on Tsunoda’s case explained that the Japanese driver had misjudged his delta time, initially thinking he could meet the required time but ultimately falling short. As a result, Tsunoda’s decision led to the unnecessary slowdown, putting him under investigation.
Under the FIA’s disciplinary rules, drivers are permitted up to four reprimands in a single season before facing further consequences. Should either Russell or Tsunoda accumulate five reprimands, they would be handed a 10-place grid penalty in their next race, which could have a significant impact on their performance. However, both drivers avoided more severe penalties for this infraction, with the reprimands serving as a warning for future conduct.
For both teams, the reprimands serve as a reminder of the importance of adhering to the race regulations, particularly when it comes to managing time and pace during qualifying and practice sessions. With the pressure of the championship on the line, every detail counts, and such incidents could prove costly as the season continues.
As the FIA continues to enforce these rules, both Russell and Tsunoda will undoubtedly be more cautious in future qualifying rounds to avoid further reprimands and the risk of a grid penalty, which would have serious repercussions for their performances in upcoming races.
