Tsunoda heavily fined for abusive comments
Enraged on the radio during qualifying for the Austrian GP, the Racing Bulls driver received a major sanction from the FIA. He made insulting remarks about a driver.
The stewards are absolutely not joking about this. Yuki Tsunoda received a significant fine for getting angry on the radio during qualifying in Austria this Saturday.
A fine of 40,000 euros
He would have declared at the end of Q1 on the radio: “These guys are f***ing morons.” These offenses were pronounced while he was annoyed at being overtaken in the pit lane by a driver. The FIA reacted strongly:
Yuki Tsunoda is required to pay €20,000, while an additional €20,000 represents a reprieve, which will be canceled if no other similar infraction is committed in 2024 by the Japanese driver.
Tsunoda would have been horrified when he learned the meaning of the words used.
The Racing Bulls driver apologized to the stewards. His defense line was based on a misunderstanding of the words used in English:
During the hearing, the driver apologized and explained, as English is not his native language, that he did not know until the end of the session what the words he used in English meant. He claims to have been horrified when he learned the meaning. He argued that his understanding of the words was different but acknowledged that this should not be considered an excuse. The commissioners appreciate the pilot’s honesty, but reinforce the fact that the words used are offensive and completely inappropriate.
Apologies that reduce the sanction
His public apologies allowed Yuki Tsunoda to convert part of his fine into a suspended sentence. Otherwise, he would probably have had to pay €40,000… also for the purpose of setting an example: « In view of the circumstances, the stewards determine that a severe fine is necessary, but also take into account the pilot’s sincere remorse and his offer to make public apologies, and for these reasons, decide to suspend part of the fine imposed. »
