The Formula 1 race at Barcelona featured a collision between Zhou Guanyu and Yuki Tsunoda in the first turn. The Alfa Romeo driver tried to attack from the outside, but Tsunoda calmly drove on the optimal line and defended his position. Zhou found himself on the sidelines, questioning Tsunoda's behavior.
Judges later found an infringement by Tsunoda, and a 5-second penalty was imposed on him, causing him to fall out of the top ten. It was accompanied by one penalty point, something that the main interested party could not agree with at all.
Tsunoda disagreed with the decision and suggested that Zhou was acting a bit in this situation: "When I saw [Zhou coming], I left the room and I feel like he just gave up in the early stages.
"He went outside and pretended like he got forced out, but he didn't. Definitely, there was still space outside.
"Obviously I gave him pressure but there's still space, so I don't understand why it was a penalty. It feels really unfair, really harsh."
The representative of Japan also revealed that he's been told about the time penalty after crossing the finish line: "I just heard and after chequered flag, which I was really happy. But after that radio, I was really disappointed.
"At the same time, [I felt] a bit curious… It is good to have a bit of discussion with the FIA because they give five seconds without any discussion and the race is over.
"So, it feels unfair… [I feel] exhausted, flat."
On the other hand, Zhou shared a completely different perspective on the whole situation: "I was ahead before braking into Turn 1 and then mid-corner, I was actually giving a lot of space. Then I just saw him [and he] wasn't stopping.
"[He tried] to release the brakes [but he] ran me off, which I had to take avoiding action and [use the] escape road, otherwise we would be crashing together.
"So, that was tricky after that because I had so much rubbish on my tyre. But then, in the end, I was able to keep behind him in the right position and get the position back."
The incident between these two drivers sparked controversy among fans and experts alike. Some believe that Tsunoda's penalty was unfair and that Zhou was trying to deceive judges. Others argue that Tsunoda's driving was too aggressive and that Zhou had no choice but to avoid contact.
In any case, incidents like this highlight the importance of clear rules and consistent enforcement in Formula 1. Without them, controversies like this can divide fans and undermine the integrity of the sport.
It remains to be seen whether future races will bring similar incidents and how they will be resolved by judges. One thing is certain; the world of Formula 1 is never short on drama and excitement.
