The Italian Grand Prix result is now formally under protest. Audi lodged notice of appeal against the FIA stewards’ “no further action” ruling on Yuki Tsunoda’s aborted-start incident, then made the decision public in a race-day statement.
“Following the Italian Grand Prix, we raised a concern regarding the application of Article B5.9.4, which requires a driver who causes an extra formation lap to enter the pit lane and resume the race from there,” the team said.
“The Stewards issued a decision of No Further Action, and we have notified our intention to appeal.”
Article B5.9.4 and the extra formation lap
The dispute goes back to the red-flag restart at Monza. Due to line up 14th on the grid, Tsunoda first headed towards the 15th-place slot, then veered to the right-hand side and stopped out of shape in his grid box. The race director called another formation lap rather than start with the car at that angle.
Article B5.9.4 sends the driver responsible for an extra formation lap through the pit lane at the end of it. The stewards accepted Racing Bulls’ argument that Tsunoda’s car was inside his grid box, that his position had no impact on other competitors, and that Tsunoda had not been the “cause” of the extra formation lap. Audi’s position is that only Tsunoda’s car triggered it.
Bortoleto stands to inherit 10th
An unserved stop-and-go is normally converted into a 30-second post-race penalty. Applied to Tsunoda’s classification, +58.187s behind winner Antonelli in the Monza order, the drop would put him 15th, out of the points entirely.
Gabriel Bortoleto would move from 11th to 10th and give Audi its first point of the weekend, with knock-on movement further down the constructors’ order.
Audi have 96 hours to decide
Under FIA judicial rules, a team has one hour after a stewards’ decision to lodge an intention to appeal, and then 96 hours to confirm or withdraw. Audi are still inside that window. No hearing date has been announced.
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Antonelli’s win from 19th
At the front, none of this changes anything. Kimi Antonelli won his home Grand Prix from 19th on the grid after passing Mercedes teammate George Russell on lap 50 of 53, the first home win by an Italian at Monza since 1966.
“Unbelievable, I’m so happy and I could never have imagined to be here today but we managed to pull it off and I’m really happy,” Antonelli said.
“It’s a dream coming true.”
Antonelli leads the drivers’ standings by 66 points. Monza’s provisional classification stands until Audi’s 96-hour window closes.
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