Christian Horner Slams FIA Inconsistency After Yuki Tsunoda’s Canadian GP Penalty Sparks Outrage
Montreal, Canada, June 19, 2025 – Red Bull Racing’s Christian Horner has unleashed a scathing critique of the FIA following a controversial 10-place grid penalty imposed on Yuki Tsunoda during the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix, plunging Formula 1 into a storm of chaos and debate. The penalty, handed down after Tsunoda overtook Oscar Piastri’s damaged McLaren under red-flag conditions in FP3, has ignited fury within the Red Bull camp, with Horner accusing the governing body of inconsistent stewarding that undermined Tsunoda’s race before it even began. As fans and drivers question the FIA’s decision-making, the incident has spotlighted safety concerns and raised doubts about the sport’s rule enforcement.
The drama unfolded when Piastri clipped the Wall of Champions during FP3, sustaining a punctured rear tire and scattering debris across Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, prompting a red flag. Tsunoda, encountering Piastri’s crippled car moving at just 86 km/h, overtook at 171 km/h, citing fears of debris damage. The stewards deemed this a breach, imposing the penalty that dropped Tsunoda from a promising 11th to 20th on the grid, a decision he called “ridiculous,” arguing it was a safety move. Horner echoed this frustration, noting that post-race overtakes under Safety Car conditions went unpunished, highlighting what he sees as a double standard. “Yuki was nailed on Saturday for making an overtake, and then a few cars overtook whilst there were marshals on the track after the race,” Horner said, urging consistency.
The incident draws parallels to Sergio Perez’s 2024 Barcelona penalty for driving a damaged car, where a three-place grid drop was applied, yet Tsunoda faced a harsher fate despite similar circumstances. Piastri’s slow crawl with a swinging tire posed a potential hazard, a point Tsunoda emphasized: “I went far right… to overtake him with sensible speed, and I got a penalty.” Critics argue the FIA failed to penalize Piastri for risking the grid, a lapse that fueled Red Bull’s outrage. Horner suggested Tsunoda could have scored points from a higher start, a missed opportunity that stings amid the team’s struggles this season.
Beyond the penalty, Tsunoda’s future hangs in the balance. With only seven points since his April promotion to Red Bull, pressure mounts as Isack Hadjar and Arvid Lindblad emerge as contenders. Horner and Helmut Marko have hinted at a potential 2026 lineup shakeup, with Hadjar’s strong start at Racing Bulls making him a likely replacement if Tsunoda falters. The RB21’s performance issues, evident in Perez’s earlier struggles, add to the stakes, though Tsunoda’s penalty has amplified scrutiny on his seat. Cadillac’s interest in experienced drivers like Valtteri Bottas could offer a lifeline if Red Bull cuts ties.
Fans on social platforms are divided, with some decrying the FIA’s inconsistency—“Tsunoda was right to avoid danger!”—while others defend the rules. As F1 heads to Austria, this controversy could push the FIA to revisit its safety and penalty protocols. Was Tsunoda unfairly punished, or should Piastri share the blame? The answer may shape the sport’s governance and Tsunoda’s career trajectory in the weeks ahead.
