Tsunoda Penalized, Verstappen Receives Apology in Post-Season FIA Roundup

The FIA has added a penalty point to Yuki Tsunoda's superlicence for his multi-direction defense against Lando Norris during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix title decider. Meanwhile, Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli personally apologized to Max Verstappen for his Qatar race error that ultimately handed Norris the 2025 championship by a two-point margin.

Why it matters:

These post-season developments highlight how microscopic margins now define F1 outcomes - from on-track maneuvers to off-track accountability. Tsunoda's sanction reinforces the FIA's strict stance on defensive driving, while Antonelli's rare public apology underscores the human dimension in a sport where single laps can alter careers. With title races decided by razor-thin margins, every interaction carries amplified consequences.

The details:

• Tsunoda's penalty: The Japanese driver received a five-second time penalty during the race for weaving while defending against Norris on Yas Marina's back straight, followed by the superlicence point that brings his 12-month total to four.
• Verstappen's apology: Antonelli approached Verstappen after Abu Dhabi to acknowledge his late-race mistake in Qatar where he locked up while defending third place, allowing Norris to gain crucial points. The error proved decisive in Verstappen's narrow title loss.
• Superlicence costs: Norris' championship victory triggers F1's progressive superlicence fee structure, requiring him to pay over €1 million for 2026 entry (€11,842 base + €2,392 per championship point). His €1,023,507 fee remains below Verstappen's record €1.3 million after 2023.
• Doohan's opportunity: Former Alpine driver Jack Doohan is in advanced talks with Haas for a 2026 reserve role, leveraging his potential move to Toyota-supported Super Formula as a pathway. The arrangement would position him as primary backup to main drivers Oliver Bearman and Liam Lawson.

What's next:

The FIA's continued scrutiny of defensive maneuvers suggests stricter enforcement for 2026, potentially altering how drivers approach wheel-to-wheel combat. For Verstappen, Antonelli's gesture provides symbolic closure but won't ease the sting of losing his third title by the championship's smallest margin since 1984. Norris' financial burden highlights F1's controversial superlicence system that penalizes success, while Doohan's potential Haas role represents Toyota's growing influence through technical partnerships. As teams finalize 2026 lineups, expect more reserve driver announcements leveraging manufacturer connections - with Tsunoda's penalty serving as a cautionary tale for aggressive driving in critical moments.