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Binotto apologises for comparing Tsunoda to a tsunami

MONZA, Italy : Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto apologised on Saturday for causing upset by comparing accident-prone Japanese Formula One driver Yuki Tsunoda to a tsunami.

'It's a bad joke' - Ferrari principal Binotto apologises for comparing Tsunoda to tsunami

Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto apologised on Saturday for causing upset by comparing accident-prone Japanese Formula One driver Yuki Tsunoda to a tsunami. AlphaTauri's Tsunoda has had five reprimands in 15 races, and also eight penalty points on his super-licence in the last 12 months. Twelve points in a year trigger an automatic race ban. "Certainly I need to apologise," Binotto said after being informed by a Japanese reporter at the Italian Grand Prix that comments after last weekend's race in the Netherlands had caused offence in Japan. "It was a mistake by using that word. There was no intention to do anything wrong. I'm very close to the victims which honestly I realise. "I think that Tsunoda is a fantastic driver, he's a great man and we've got a good relationship between the two. We simply called him in a way to make a simple joke, but it's a bad joke." Thousands died in Japan when a massive earthquake off its northeast coast in March 2011 set off a tsunami that swept inland and led to a meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Tsunoda was caught up in a controversy at Zandvoort when he triggered a virtual safety car by stopping on track, an incident that ultimately helped Red Bull's race winner and runaway championship leader Max Verstappen.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen quickest at FP3, Alex Albon to miss Italian GP due to appendicitis

Max Verstappen was quickest in FP3 at Monza at the Italian Grand Prix on Saturday afternoon. It remains to be seen how meaningful race pace will be for the world champion and current championship leader as he is one of a number of drivers to incur grid penalties after taking new parts.