Tsunoda handed three-place grid drop for blocking Bottas
AlphaTauri driver falls from eighth to 11th on the grid
AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda has been handed a three-place grid penalty following his impeding of Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas during qualifying for the Styrian Grand Prix.
Tsunoda produced a fine performance to reach the top-10 shoot-out but during Q3 the young Japanese driver blocked Bottas at one stage, prompting an angry response from the Finn over the team radio.
Following an investigation, the stewards noted: "Car 22 [Tsunoda] had just completed a fast lap and had communication from the team that he was now on an in lap.
"The team did not warn car 22 of the approach of car 77 [Bottas] on a fast lap.
"Car 77 approached car 22 at the entry to turn four. 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."
Tsunoda, who has also been handed a penalty point on his licence, will drop from eighth to 11th on the grid.
Alpine's Fernando Alonso will now start eighth, with Aston Martin's Lance Stroll moving up to ninth, while George Russell lines up 10th in his Williams.
Related
More F1 news
Latest F1 news
Recommended by the editors
Miami Grand Prix
F1 Sprint Race Today: Miami Grand Prix 2026 start times, TV channel and FREE live stream
Miami Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton reveals Miami pain, Ferrari star blasts 'horrendous' lap
F1 News Today
F1 News Today: Ferrari fumble hard at Miami Grand Prix as FIA punishment confirmed
Miami Grand Prix
FIA investigate Lando Norris after infringement at Miami Grand Prix
Races
-
Grand Prix of Australia 2026
-
Grand Prix of China 2026
-
Grand Prix of Japan 2026
-
Grand Prix of Bahrain 2026
-
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2026
-
Miami Grand Prix 2026
-
Grand Prix du Canada 2026
-
Grand Prix De Monaco 2026
-
Gran Premio de Barcelona-Catalunya 2026
-
Grand Prix of Austria 2026
-
Grand Prix of Great Britain 2026
-
Grand Prix of Belgium 2026
-
Grand Prix of Hungary 2026
-
Dutch Grand Prix 2026
-
Grand Prix of Italy 2026
-
Gran Premio de España 2026
-
Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2026
-
Grand Prix of Singapore 2026
-
Grand Prix of the United States 2026
-
Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2026
-
Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2026
-
Las Vegas Grand Prix 2026
-
Qatar Grand Prix 2026
-
Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2026
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Editorial & corporate information
Avenue HQ
10–12 East Parade
Leeds
LS1 2BH
United Kingdom Regional correspondence
View contact page