Red Bull have been handed a punishment for their driving during the final practice session of the 2025 Formula One season.
On Sunday afternoon, the 2025 F1 season will come to an end after nine months of drama and 24 race weekends throughout the year.
Unlike recent seasons, the season-finale in Abu Dhabi will also serve as a title decider as McLaren pair Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri battle with reigning champion Max Verstappen.
Ahead of the exciting race on Sunday, the grid drove in their final practice sessions of the season on Saturday morning, ahead of qualifying later in the day.
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But the session didn't go well for Red Bull, as the FIA have handed the F1 team a harsh punishment after a controversial incident involving championship leader Norris.
Heading into the final race, Norris is a heavy favourite to win the title as he boasts a 12 point lead over second-place Verstappen, meaning all he needs to do on Sunday is finish the race on the podium
This means that, barring any shock accidents or controversial strategy calls, the Brit should be crowned the 2025 champion on Sunday.
Therefore, the Brit was clearly not happy during Saturday's final practice session as he came frighteningly close to crashing into the back of Yuki Tsunoda as he came round a high-speed corner to find the Red Bull driver slowly moving in the middle of the track.
The moment was immediately noted by the FIA, and it has now been confirmed that Red Bull have been fined €10,000 (£8,736) while Tsunoda has picked up a warning for impeding Norris.
In a document released online, the FIA noted: "The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 22 (Yuki Tsunoda), the driver of Car 4 (Lando Norris), team representatives and reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video, timing, telemetry, team radio and in-car video evidence.
“Telemetry showed that Car 4 was, for the first part of the lap, driving in a manner that indicated he was not on a push lap.
“The team of Car 22 conceded that this was interpreted by them to mean that Car 4 was not on a push lap.
“In approaching turn 9 it was easily visible on the GPS map available to the teams, that Car 4 was rapidly gaining on Car 22, which was on a slow lap.
“However the team of Car 22 continued to only advise its driver about the following cars on push laps.
“The Stewards determine that the competitor of Car 22 should have warned its driver that Car 4 was rapidly closing the gap, and it had ample time to do so, and hence impose the above penalty.
“Additionally a formal warning is issued to the driver."
Thankfully, the pair avoided the collision meaning they are clear to take part in qualifying later on Saturday.
Topics: Lando Norris, Motorsport, Formula 1, Red Bull Racing, McLaren
Ben McCrum