Tsunoda Slams 'Harsh' Stewards After Norris Penalty Controversy in Abu Dhabi Finale

Yuki Tsunoda blasted Formula 1 stewards for inconsistent enforcement of rules after being penalized for weaving on the main straight against Lando Norris during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Japanese driver, executing team orders to delay Norris and aid Max Verstappen's title bid, forced the world champion off-track but received a five-second penalty and superlicence point while Norris faced no sanctions for gaining an advantage off-track.

Why it matters:

This incident highlights growing frustration with F1's inconsistent application of driving standards, particularly during high-stakes team strategy moments. With stewards penalizing Tsunoda for defensive maneuvers similar to those used by Fernando Alonso against Kimi Antonelli moments earlier, the ruling undermines driver confidence in fair adjudication during critical championship moments.

The details:

• Tsunoda executed a pre-planned defensive move under team instructions, weaving across the straight to slow Norris who was closing at 0.5 seconds per lap.
• Stewards penalized him for "forcing another driver off the track" despite Norris completing the pass off-track and gaining position.
• Key inconsistency: Alonso employed nearly identical weaving against Antonelli without penalty, creating confusion about enforcement thresholds.
• Tsunoda argued the penalty was excessive given the context: "Everyone was doing it... it cost my race massively. It is very harsh, as usual."
• Radio transcripts revealed Tsunoda overruled engineers' stress by insisting "I know what to do," showing premeditated strategy execution.
• The driver calculated he could hold Norris for one more lap before the overtake, noting Verstappen was still 0.8-0.9 seconds behind in the championship battle.

What's next:

This controversy will intensify pressure on FIA to clarify defensive driving boundaries ahead of the 2025 season.

• Stewards face scrutiny over why identical maneuvers received different treatments within minutes of each other.
• Teams may rethink aggressive defensive strategies if inconsistent penalties persist during critical moments.
• Tsunoda's move could become a reference case for the Sporting Regulations working group as they review driving standards enforcement.
• With Tsunoda confirmed to stay in F1 with AlphaTauri next year, this incident may shape his approach to future team orders under new management.