Tsunoda to review 'very harsh' penalty after Norris title defense attempt

Yuki Tsunoda has congratulated Lando Norris on his maiden Formula 1 World Championship but plans to review the 'very harsh' five-second penalty he received for attempting to slow the McLaren driver during the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The penalty, issued for making more than one change of direction while defending, significantly impacted Tsunoda's race and added a penalty point to his superlicence.

Why it matters:

Team orders and strategic defending are intrinsic to Formula 1, especially in a championship finale. The stewards' decision to penalize Tsunoda—along with Lance Stroll and Oliver Bearman for similar offences—highlights the FIA's ongoing strict interpretation of defensive driving rules. For Tsunoda, the penalty marred his final race with Red Bull before moving to a test and reserve role for 2026.

The details:

• Red Bull radioed Tsunoda to defend aggressively against the approaching Norris to aid teammate Max Verstappen's title hopes.
• The stewards deemed his multi-directional move in defense illegal, resulting in a five-second time penalty and one superlicence penalty point.
• Tsunoda expressed frustration with the team's persistent radio calls during the maneuver, stating he understood the assignment but was simply out-paced by Norris's McLaren.
• He argued that backing Norris up in the final sector on the previous lap wasn't feasible due to the gap, and the outcome would likely have been the same.
• This was not Tsunoda's only run-in with officials in Abu Dhabi; Red Bull was also fined €10,000 during practice for failing to warn him of Norris's approach on a hot lap.

The big picture:

The incident underscores the high-pressure, tactical battles that define modern F1, where drivers are often caught between team orders and the strict limits of racing regulations. While Tsunoda's defense was a logical team play, the consistent application of penalties in Abu Dhabi signals that the FIA remains unwavering on certain rules, regardless of the championship stakes. For Norris, navigating such traffic was a crucial part of his title-winning drive.