Tsunoda offers apology over use of ableist slur

Yuki Tsunoda has offered an apology on social media following his use of an ableist slur at the Austrian Grand Prix. 

In Q1, as Tsunoda was queuing in the fast-lane of the pit-lane, Zhou Guanyu cut in front of him, with the RB driver saying "are these guys fucking retarded?" over the team radio. 

The message was spotted by fans on social media, with the FIA launching an investigation under a breach of Article 12.2.1 K of the International Sporting Code. 

This covers the use of language that could be "offensive, insulting, coarse, rude or abusive and might reasonably be expected or be perceived to be coarse or rude or to cause offence, humiliation or to be inappropriate."

For using the slur, Tsunoda was fined €40,000 euros for which €20,000 is suspended for the rest of the 2024 season, provided no similar offence takes place.

The stewards found Tsunoda "apologetic" in their hearing, and that because English was not his first language, he was unaware of the meaning of his comment and that waa he "horrified" by it. 

Taking to social media, Tsunoda offered his own apology.

Tsunoda apologies for ablest slur

"Hello.

"I wanted to say say big apologies [for] what I said in [sic] the radio today. 

"Obviously I didn't use it intentionally and was completely misunderstanding [sic] from myself that exact meaning of it.

"I now have better better understanding for what the word means and am very apologetic for what I said.

"This type of language has no place and is not tolerated and for that I am sorry."