Controversy erupted at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and amidst the fallout, former Haas team boss Guenther Steiner has stepped forward with a rare defense of Yuki Tsunoda. This is a story of split opinions, where one man's racing is another's reckless driving.
Tsunoda's final act as a Red Bull driver in the season finale was an attempt to slow down McLaren's Lando Norris. This was a last-ditch effort to boost teammate Max Verstappen's fading title hopes. Norris was on his way to securing a third-place finish, which would crown him the new world champion. He faced a potential obstacle in Tsunoda, who was driving for Red Bull.
Tsunoda tried to break the tow, weaving and swerving on the long back straight. However, he couldn't stop Norris from passing, with the McLaren driver going off-track to complete the move.
The stewards investigated the incident, clearing Norris but penalizing Tsunoda with a five-second time penalty for defending his position with “more than one change of direction.”
But here's where it gets controversial: Steiner disagreed with the penalty. He sarcastically commented on The Red Flags Podcast, saying the punishment was unnecessary. He believes that this is what fans want to see: competitive racing. He added that the stewards shouldn't try to gain popularity by handing out fines. Steiner felt that Tsunoda was pushing the limits, and Norris took a risk. He also noted that Norris would have likely passed Tsunoda in the next lap anyway.
And this is the part most people miss: Steiner pointed out that if drivers stopped these kinds of maneuvers, who would want to watch racing? He felt the stewards were overreacting.
However, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown criticized Tsunoda's move during Sky Sports F1's coverage. He called it a dangerous and unnecessary maneuver, while acknowledging it's a team sport. Brown believed Tsunoda crossed the line with his driving.
Norris ultimately beat Verstappen to the title by just two points.
What do you think? Was Tsunoda's move fair racing, or did he go too far? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
