Rivals at odds over who caused first-lap crash in Saudi Arabian GP
Both Tsunoda and Gasly insist there was nothing they could do in their Jeddah collision
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly have both refused to accept the blame for causing a race-ending crash for each driver in Jeddah.
Tsunoda’s Red Bull made contact with the Alpine of Gasly at Turn 4 on the opening lap of the race.
It was one of a series of exciting manoeuvres on lap one, with race winner Oscar Piastri tangling with Max Verstappen at the front, earning the Dutchman a five-second time penalty.
But it was the other Red Bull of Tsunoda that banged wheels with Gasly before both were sent spinning into the barriers.
Tsunoda said: “It's hard to blame either me or Pierre. I've done as much as I can to avoid it.
“I was fully in control in terms of speed and I was not, like, almost crashing into the car in front, which was Carlos [Sainz].
“I was fully in control and I tried to avoid as much as I can, to not hit Pierre, especially that probably it is the most-tight corner of this track.
“It is a shame how it ended up. You could say there was space but from my point of view I had no space and I tried to slow down to avoid it.”
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
Meanwhile Gasly, who was seventh last time out in Bahrain in a positive result for the Frenchman, said he was also not to blame.
He said: “There's no need to say too much about it. I know him. It was never intentional but on my side, I had a good line coming into Turn 4, I could brake quite late and try and leave as much space as I could on the outside of Turn 4.
“So I already have the car pass the white line. I had to keep my two wheels inside the track to make sure the pass was done.
“I mean, at the end of the day, it's a tiny touch, but it's just a shame it’s put a stop to both of our races.”
Photos from Saudi Arabian GP - Race
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
Share Or Save This Story
How Jonathan Wheatley wants Sauber to use F1 podium momentum in Audi transformation
How Christian Horner’s Red Bull exit mirrored his F1 arrival and why he will be missed
Keanu Reeves to star in new Cadillac F1 team documentary
FIA announces hearing as Alpine seeks to get Pierre Gasly's Monaco podium back
Why Pierre Gasly vented his lost Monaco P3 with fake celebrations - "I knew the situation"
Alpine requests FIA ‘right of review’ over penalties which cost Monaco GP podium
Red Bull "understands" Isack Hadjar outbursts on troubled drive to Monaco F1 podium
Red Bull finds cause of Max Verstappen’s DNF, planned engine change after Monaco
From “a new back” to the front row: What’s behind Max Verstappen’s surprise Monaco pace?
Audi to field Alpine F1 reserve Paul Aron in two practice outings
The simulator company taking over F1 and the wider motorsport world
Not a "handful" after all? How the DTM special waiver helped the Lamborghini
Why the one-bike proposal has left the entire MotoGP paddock in shock
Anti-racing or ingenuity? Monaco's hold-up tactics might be in F1 for good
What could drive McLaren to build its own F1 engine
No more naysayers, surely? How Monaco proved Kimi Antonelli's searing form wasn't just luck
Why Toto Wolff may need to try some distraction tactics
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments