Gabriel Bortoleto explains: This is why Audi is taking the Monza appeal seriously

The result of the Monza race is not yet set in stone. Just hours after the chequered flag was waved at the Royal Park, the Audi team confirmed that it had officially lodged an appeal against the result of the Italian Grand Prix within the required timeframe. This marked the start of the 96-hour period during which the team had to decide whether to formally lodge the appeal.

This Thursday evening, the Hinwil-based team confirmed that the appeal had not been withdrawn. This means the race on the high-speed circuit will have a longer aftermath. What has left Audi fuming is an incident during the restart that followed Charles Leclerc’s crash. Race control announced that there would be a standing start. And the drivers set off to line up on the starting grid.

In the process, Yuki Tsunoda made a mistake. He initially lined up on the left, but at the last minute he veered towards his starting box on the right – leaving him positioned at an angle. Race control called off the start and had the field complete another formation lap. Tsunoda then lined up correctly and set off from the starting grid.

According to Audi, this constituted a breach of Article B5.9.4 of the sporting regulations. This states that a driver who triggers an extra formation lap must turn into the pit lane and start from there. This did not happen in Tsunoda’s case. There is a lot at stake for Audi, as Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg finished in 11th and 12th places – narrowly missing out on the points. Tsunoda finished tenth, earning a point for the Racing Bulls team, for whom he was standing in for Liam Lawson, who in turn was replacing the injured Isack Hadjar at Red Bull Racing.

Bortoleto emphasises: Every point counts

The race stewards had debated whether Tsunoda should be penalised for the aborted start. However, they concluded that Tsunoda could not be penalised because neither the team nor the driver were aware that they had been considered the reason for the extra formation lap, and Tsunoda was not officially in an incorrect starting position. The reasoning also stated that the extra lap before the restart had been implemented for safety reasons and in good faith.

Topic of the week

2027 MotoGP grid: Almost a quarter of the riders are new – implications for SBK

The 2027 MotoGP grid will feature five new regular riders, with at least three of those dropped set to move to the World Superbike Championship. The ones to suffer as a result are Alvaro Bautista and Danilo Petrucci.

Ivo Schützbach

Read More

TV Program

Live

Madrid: Das Rennen Re-Live

FIA Formula One World Championship

13.09.2026 - 17:30

Bortoleto defended his team’s actions. He explained: “I think the rules are quite clear: if a driver causes an extra formation lap, he must start from the pit lane – and in this case, Yuki did not do that. That is why Audi is appealing against the result. Every point counts for us, and ultimately it’s about ensuring everything is done correctly.”