India Breaking News reported Formula 1 Troubles for Tsunoda and Guang Zhou, that there was tension between Formula 1 drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Zhou Guanyu during the Spanish Grand Prix. Tsunoda, who drives for AlphaTauri, was penalized with a time adjustment after race officials deemed that his maneuver during an overtaking attempt by Zhou forced the latter off the track. This penalty shifted Tsunoda from a potential ninth-place finish, which would have earned him two points, to a 12th-place finish outside of the point-earning positions.

Formula1 Hong Kong Team

During the incident, Zhou tried to pass Tsunoda on the outside of the first and second turns but ended up having to use the escape road to avoid a collision, continuing the race without any damage to his vehicle. Despite Tsunoda’s claim that there was adequate room on the track and Zhou could have remained on it, race stewards issued a five-second penalty to Tsunoda for the maneuver.

Zhou, driving for Alfa Romeo, was subsequently promoted to ninth place, marking his and his team’s first points since the Australian Grand Prix, where he also finished ninth. Zhou supported the stewards’ decision, explaining that Tsunoda had unexpectedly released his brakes, forcing Zhou off the track to avoid contact.

The incident sparked varied reactions, with Tsunoda expressing strong dissatisfaction, labeling the penalty as “ridiculous” and “unfair.” He felt that Zhou had deliberately chosen to exit the track to make it appear as if he had been pushed off. In contrast, Zhou felt vindicated by the decision, highlighting his proactive measures to avoid a collision by taking the escape route.

Tsunoda and Guang Zhou

This disagreement underscores the differing perspectives of the two drivers regarding the controversial race moment, where Tsunoda felt unjustly penalized and Zhou believed justice was served.

Additionally, F1 commentator Martin Brundle faced backlash for using a derogatory term while referring to Zhou during ChinaSports77’s coverage of the event. The term ‘Chinaman,’ used during his commentary, was criticized by fans for being inappropriate, though Brundle has not yet responded to the criticism. Brundle, a seasoned F1 pundit with decades of experience, is generally well-regarded in the motorsport community.

In summary, the Spanish Grand Prix was notable not only for the on-track incident between Tsunoda and Zhou but also for the off-track controversy involving commentary, reflecting a dramatic and contentious race weekend.