Yuki Tsunoda has received a 10-place grid penalty for the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix after the Red Bull racer overtook McLaren star Oscar Piastri during a red flag in FP3.
The final practice session for the Canadian GP hit pause slightly behind the midway point on Saturday after Sauber star Nico Hulkenberg clipped the Wall of Champions and left debris at the last corner from his rear wing. The German spun a full 360 after clouting the inside kerb.
Piastri even tagged a wall during FP3, which punctured his rear-right tyre, but the F1 drivers’ championship leader limped his McLaren MCL39 back to the pit lane. Tsunoda caught Piastri en route back to the pits under the red flag, too, so he decided to overtake the 24-year-old.
Tsunoda argued during his hearing between FP3 and qualifying for the Canadian GP that the 25-year-old chose to overtake Piastri as he feared debris coming off the Australian’s car. But the stewards gave Tsunoda a 10-place grid penalty as he passed Piastri at 171kph (106mph).
Red Bull fans rage at Oscar Piastri after Yuki Tsunoda receives Canadian Grand Prix grid penalty
Piastri was only travelling at 86kph (53mph) to avoid causing any further damage to his car, whilst also obeying the red flag, when Red Bull racer Tsunoda overtook him during FP3. So, the stewards ruled the Japanese racer had ‘no justifiable reason’ to have overtaken Piastri.
But Red Bull fans reacting to Tsunoda’s 10-place grid penalty for the Canadian GP on X took issue with Piastri. Many fans feel the 24-year-old should have parked his McLaren in one of the service roads lining the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve instead of limping a damaged car back.
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One Red Bull fan simply declared on X: “Oscar should have pulled over, [his] car was in [an] unsafe condition.” Another fan also questioned why Tsunoda was penalised when Piastri’s car was damaged, as they noted: “Surely you’re allowed to overtake if a car has damage?”
Another Red Bull fan claimed the stewards possibly should have punished Piastri, noting: “This is an absolute joke. If they deem that dangerous, then they should be reviewing whether Piastri should have even driven his damaged car around the whole circuit!”
Piastri driving with a damaged car caused a lot of rage, with another adding: “So, it’s ok for McLaren to drive a crippled and completely ruined car all the way around the track instead of stopping per instructions? Laughable.”
Another Red Bull fan also said after Tsunoda’s grid penalty in Montreal: “Oscar should have stopped the car. I thought that was the rule?” Another Red Bull fan also simply said: “Oscar should have pulled over!”
Yuki Tsunoda will start the 2025 F1 Canadian Grand Prix from the back of the grid
Tsunoda is the latest driver to be hit with such a penalty for overtaking while a red flag is out as Haas rookie Oliver Bearman drew a 10-place grid penalty in Monaco, too. The 20-year-old drew the penalty as he knowingly overtook Williams racer Carlos Sainz with the red flag out.
Like Bearman at the Monaco Grand Prix, Tsunoda will also now start the Canadian GP from the very back of the pack, after the Red Bull driver would only qualify in 11th before his 10-place grid penalty was applied. He set a 1:12.102 in Q2 to miss out on a Q3 spot by 0.099s.
READ MORE: Five unforgettable Canadian GP moments including Lewis Hamilton’s blunder
It was even Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar who cost Tsunoda a Q3 spot at the Canadian GP as the 20-year-old snuck into the top-10 shootout at the Red Bull racer’s expense. Hadjar is the favourite to replace Tsunoda at Red Bull, too, as pressure builds on his spot in the team.
Red Bull may release Tsunoda as soon as the 2025 summer break, having only scored seven points through his first seven rounds for the team ahead of the Canadian GP. Even if he gets to see out the year, Red Bull are expected to release Tsunoda after the 2025 F1 season, too.
