Yuki Tsunoda has expressed his frustration with what he perceives as arbitrary penalties handed out by race officials during Grands Prix. Last week, there was further controversy over several decisions at the American GP. According to the Japanese driver, Formula 1 racers are expected to drive like machines, akin to artificial intelligence (AI).
Like George Russell, Pierre Gasly, and Lando Norris, Yuki Tsunoda was also among the drivers penalized in Austin. The Japanese driver was given a five-second penalty for going off-track and gaining an advantage in a duel with Alex Albon. “I feel like they expect us to drive like a machine, like AI, and try to follow every rule,” the Japanese driver complained on the eve of the Mexican GP. “In the end, we are racing. That’s why people watch: it’s a battle between drivers. We try to fight each other with passion, right?”
Tsunoda compared the situation to autonomous racing events, without drivers in the car, which were recently held in Abu Dhabi. “If they take the passion out, it just becomes AI fighting, probably just like in Abu Dhabi. Then it’s better to just watch that,” said the VISA RB driver.
Tsunoda emphasized that the rule about who has right of way at the apex is difficult to enforce. “Because it depends on how they define it,” he said. “And if I remember correctly, the cars on the inside or whatever had right of way at the apex, the outside can then withdraw.” Tsunoda called for more input from experienced drivers in the stewards’ decision-making process. “They should have more rights.
