Tsunoda reprimanded for impeding Leclerc; Stroll given same punishment for bizarre collision

Yuki Tsunoda and Lance Stroll have both been given reprimands to start the new F1 season after separate incidents during second practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

AlphaTauri driver Tsunoda was found guilty of holding up Ferrari's Charles Leclerc late on in FP2, with the Monégasque narrowly avoiding contact as the pair negotiated turns seven and eight.

The stewards' report read: "Car 22 [Tsunoda] impeded car 16 [Leclerc] who was on a fast lap with new tyres at turn eight, causing car 16 to abandon his lap.

"Driver 22 says he was pushing on an out lap for a long, high-fuel run.

"However, the stewards consider that a driver on an out lap must always be aware of faster cars approaching and although this did not create a dangerous situation they determine that this is a breach of the regulation and they impose a reprimand in this case."

Tsunoda was also involved in the incident that saw Stroll reprimanded for the same offence.

The two cars made contact at the same corner after the chequered flag fell as the Aston Martin cut in from the outside-to-in, brushing Tsunoda's front wing.

The stewards' found that: "Driver 18 [Stroll] says he was travelling slowly in preparation for a practice start and was looking in his mirrors but the closing speed from cars behind travelling much more quickly meant he did not see car 22 when approaching turn eight.

"The stewards acknowledge this, and note that the team did not give the driver any radio warning of approaching cars, but consider that the driver has responsibility for maintaining awareness of cars around them and that this applies equally on the lap after the chequered flag."

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