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AlphaTauri Formula 1 driver Yuki Tsunoda has received a Styrian Grand Prix penalty for impeding the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas in qualifying.
Tsunoda was on an in-lap when he inadvertently got in the way of a pushing Bottas in the early stages of the pole shoot-out, with the incident swiftly placed under investigation.
The Japanese rookie finished the session in eighth place but will now have to start 11th following the application of a three-place grid penalty by the stewards, who ruled that he did not do a satisfactory job in getting out of the way of Bottas.
“Car 22 had just completed a fast lap and had communication from the team that he was now on an in-lap,” the stewards’ explanation of the situation read.
“Car 77 approached Car 22 at the entry to Turn 4. Car 22 was on the racing line and while he attempted to move off the racing line to the outside, he did impede car 77 unnecessarily.
“It is the responsibility of every driver to be aware of faster cars when they are on a slow lap. The team should have assisted the driver in being aware of the approaching faster car but such lack of communication is not an excuse for the driver.”
Valtteri isn't very happy with Yuki
The Finn thinks he was blocked by the Japanese driver#StyrianGP 🇦🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/jFhh3YpkvT
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 26, 2021
No lasting damage was done to Bottas’s session as he went on to set the second-best time – albeit a three-place grid penalty of his own means he will start Sunday’s race from fifth.
Speaking to Sky immediately after qualifying, Tsunoda argued he hadn’t hampered Bottas substantially.
“There is still a gap between me and Valtteri and there’s a little bit of a crest before Turn 4. The point I saw him was already in the braking zone,” he said.
Asked whether the team warned him about Bottas, he said: “No. It’s a mistake, but to be honest if I changed direction and went inside I think that would really be in the braking zone.
not ideal after such a strong Quali, but @yukitsunoda07 has received a three-place grid drop for impeding Bottas.
P11 tomorrow it is pic.twitter.com/6InbGAdIKp
— Scuderia AlphaTauri (@AlphaTauriF1) June 26, 2021
“So I also expected that Valtteri was going to overtake me on the inside so it could have been a big shunt. There was nowhere to go so that’s why I went straight.
“It looks like there’s still a gap. I know it’s really difficult. I don’t think I ruined his lap too much.”
The sanction against Tsunoda – which also carries with it a penalty point on his licence, taking him to a total of two for the 12-month period – elevates Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll and George Russell a place on the grid each.
It means Russell will start an F1 race from the top 10 for the first time as a Williams driver.
