Yuki Tsunoda & Lance Stroll reprimanded in Bahrain
18th March 2022Alpha Tauri’s Yuki Tsunoda and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll have both faced reprimands in Bahrain for impeding drivers during the first day of the F1 season.
During Free Practice 2, Tsunoda found himself in two spots of bother as he ventured around the Bahrain International Circuit. While Stroll found himself on the receiving end of trouble in the same session.
In the first instance, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was quickly approaching turn eight. However, Tsunoda got in his way and forced the Monegasque to abandon his fast lap.
In a document, released by the FIA, the stewards handed the Alpha Tauri driver with his first reprimand of the season.
They said:
“Car 22 (TSU) impeded car 16 (LEC) who was on fast lap with new tyres at turn 8, causing car 8 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 above regulation and they impose a Reprimand in this case.”
However, later on, Tsunoda found himself being the one impeded in the latter stages of FP2.
At the same corner, Tsunoda was on an in-lap as was Stroll after both cars had past the chequered flag at the end of the second practice. However, as both drivers ventured around turn eight, the front wing of the Alpha Tauri had ‘minor contact’ with the right side of the Aston Martin.
In the stewards decision, they said:
“After both cars had taken the chequered flag at the end of the session, car 18 (STR) turned into turn 8 whilst car 22 (TSU) was approaching quickly to the inside, unnecessarily impeding car 22 and causing minor contact.
“Driver 18 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 8.
“The Stewards acknowledge this, and note that the team [Aston Martin] 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.
“The Stewards therefore determine that this is a breach of the above regulation and impose a Reprimand in this case.”
That’s it for the article: ‘Yuki Tsunoda & Lance Stroll reprimanded in Bahrain.’ What do you think, is a reprimand a fair punishment? Let us know in the comments!
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.