Racing Bulls considers Haas’ conduct unsportsmanlike during the race and requests an explanation from the FIA

Magnussen received a 10-second penalty in the early stages after contact with Alex Albon, thus ruining his own race. However, Haas then decided to use him to slow down the rivals while his teammate Nico Hülkenberg, one of only four drivers who had not stopped during the safety car period, could take advantage and pull away to get a “free” pit stop. This bold and controversial strategy, in terms of sportsmanship, did not please his competitors, but Haas was able to secure the 10th place point as a result.

The Racing Bulls management is particularly concerned, in addition to the dangerous and unsporting on-track behavior, by Haas’s interests which had nothing more to lose given the penalties applied in this case. Magnussen had already received a 10-second penalty and then gained an advantage by overtaking Tsunoda off the track, resulting in another 10-second penalty. His race was therefore personally over but his role in helping the team was still interesting.

“We started with the medium tire, and when the safety car came out, we brought Tsunoda in for the hard tire,” Permane said about his driver’s race during the press conference. “What happened next was a bit difficult to accept.”

Magnussen left the track to deliberately place himself in front of Yuki and then slowed him down to two seconds per lap, which allowed Hülkenberg, who had not yet made a pit stop, to create a gap and of course stop in front of all the cars behind.

This, to me, does not seem right, and it’s the very definition of unfair behavior. I’m sure that we and other teams will be mentioning this to the FIA for future races.

The team principal, Laurent Mekies, was equally frustrated by the maneuver.

Yuki was fighting for what could have been a 10th place finish,” the Frenchman said. He was then overtaken by Magnussen, who cut the track to pass him and then slowed down the entire pack to allow his teammate to open up a gap to stop in front of us all.

A penalty against Magnussen is pointless.

This rendered the penalty imposed on Magnussen pointless, as it ruined Yuki’s race.

Tsunoda, however, admitted to being annoyed about letting Magnussen through: “It was quite frustrating, probably my mistake was to let Kevin pass. But at the same time, he overtook me with all four wheels off the track.”

« Okay, he got a 20-second penalty, but he was wandering. So, it seemed a bit unfair, but at the same time, the truth is that I also let him go. So, it was my mistake.

I think that if I had been able to work at 100%, I could have avoided that and tried to overtake the car in front.

During the race, Tsunoda also accused Magnussen of “dangerous driving” after Haas squeezed him at the exit of turn 2. “I can understand his perspective. He helped the team score points, he was just trying to do everything he could to maintain his position,” he said. However, he feels that it was not the right behavior.

It was quite dangerous, and I almost crashed in turn 2. I wouldn’t say it was fair, but I have to understand his struggle.

Asked whether it was frustrating to fight against a driver who had nothing to lose, he said it was a delicate situation to handle.

I can’t overtake and damage the car. The position we are fighting for is always quite difficult, but at the same time, these are things to become a better driver, I must still overtake it. explained the Japanese pilot.

I wouldn’t say it was easy, and it was really tough to be on the track. But I believe that there are many things at the same time where I can do a better job than that, so I have to accept it.