Tsunoda no longer trusting 'super inconsistent' FIA

Yuki Tsunoda says the FIA's inconsistent rulings on Formula 1's pit entry and exit lines have made him distrustful of the governing body's stewards.

Tsunoda was sanctioned by the stewards last year at the Austrian Grand Prix for breaching a rule regarding the pit entry line at Spielberg that called for drivers to remain to one side of the track inside the latter's delimitations.

But the Japanese driver, who has accumulated four reprimands this season, or just one short of a 10-place grid penalty, was surprised that neither Max Verstappen nor Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez were sanctioned for putting a wheel on the pitlane exit yellow line when they rejoined the race.

Ferrari noted the infringement and filed a protest with the stewards after the Monaco Grand Prix, but both Red Bull drivers were let off the hook, unlike Tsunoda in Austria in 2021.

"I'm not trusting the FIA," said the Japanese charger. "Every time it's super inconsistent. I got already four reprimands, and the last time in Monaco, I still don't know why.

"I mean, it's not good to say what other drivers were doing, but other drivers were doing even worse things and they don't have any investigation, whereas other races they [the FIA] were suddenly getting strict or something like that.

"So probably if someone cross the white line there would be a penalty for some races.

"For me, I'll just stick to what the regulation [says] or just the safest as much as possible to not get in any trouble.

"So I don't think that, 'okay, Max and Checo were crossing the line last time in Monaco so we can do it.' I think every time it is different."

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Ahead of this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix, F1 race director Niels Wittich clarified the law regarding pitlane entry and exit lines, stating that drivers are not allowed to cross the lines, with the latter defined as putting a "full wheel" beyond the lines.

Tsunoda believes the changes implemented this year by the FIA in race control have led to a very different "style" of policing compared to previous race director Michael Masi who, Tsunoda says, had more experience.

"It is a completely different style of race director," he explained. "I'm not saying fully negative things, because it is also a good thing that they try to make it consistent and to be fair as much as possible with all the teams. For example, the white line track limit is more clear.

"But a lot of things, other things, a racing incident or traffic management and all those things, I think Michael Masi had more experience if I compare.

"I need to wait more time to get used to it or have more experience in having good data to make actually good rules. So until then, I just have to survive to not get a penalty."

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