Formula 1 Emilia Romagna GP
Yuki Tsunoda blames himself for "stupid" Imola F1 qualifying crash
Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda takes full responsibility for the violent crash he suffered in Q1 ahead of the Emilia Romagna GP
Owen Bellwood Frederik Hackbarth
Edited: May 17, 2025, 11:36 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Peter Fox / Getty Images
Yuki Tsunoda has apologised to his Red Bull team after an “unnecessary” and “stupid” crash in qualifying for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, which will see him start tomorrow’s race from the back of the field.
The Japanese driver crashed during the first part of qualifying in Imola after losing control of his RB21 and making heavy contact with the inside wall.
Tsunoda was taken to the medical centre for precautionary checks and was released before qualifying concluded.
Once cleared by the on-site doctors, the Japanese driver took responsibility for the “unnecessary” incident.
“Yeah, I'm just really stupid... pushing like that,” Tsunoda said. “I mean, this is very hard and [we] made a lot of changes to the car. So, you know, pushing that hard without understanding enough about the car and just... yeah.
“[It was] just very unnecessary, pushing that hard in the early stages.”
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
As the dust settled on his violent crash, Tsunoda said the first thing he felt was “very ashamed, disappointed, frustrated”.
The incident marked the racer’s first accident in a Q1 session in four years, after he crashed in Q1 in Imola at the 2021 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.
Now, his team of mechanics will be left with a long repair job in order to get Tsunoda’s RB21 ready to line up on the grid for tomorrow’s grand prix.
“I haven't talked with them yet, but the only thing I can do is apologise to them,” Tsunoda added.
“Obviously, [the car] has big damage, so the mechanics have to do a lot of work. And hopefully the car will be ready tomorrow – but it's very unnecessary for them.”
In stark contrast to Tsunoda’s fortunes in qualifying for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, team-mate Max Verstappen lines up second for the race, just behind the McLaren of Oscar Piastri.
Read Also:
Head here to stay up to speed with the latest F1 Imola Grand Prix news, expert analysis, photos and videos.
Photos from Imola GP - Practice & Qualifying
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
Formula 1
63
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Oliver Bearman slams FIA for “totally unfair” Imola GP qualifying
Next article Franco Colapinto hit with F1 Imola GP grid penalty
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Owen Bellwood
Mercedes: 2027 development “started a while ago” as F1 2026 domination continues
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Mercedes: 2027 development “started a while ago” as F1 2026 domination continues
Fred Vasseur shuts down claims Ferrari split Spanish GP strategy to separate drivers
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Fred Vasseur shuts down claims Ferrari split Spanish GP strategy to separate drivers
Why McLaren won’t blame F1 race control for lost Spanish GP victory
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Why McLaren won’t blame F1 race control for lost Spanish GP victory
Latest news
Cleetus McFarland set to compete full-time for 2027 ARCA championship
ARCA
ARCA ARCA 4 h
Cleetus McFarland set to compete full-time for 2027 ARCA championship
IndyCar veteran Sting Ray Robb secures United Autosports Asian Le Mans seat
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 6 h
IndyCar veteran Sting Ray Robb secures United Autosports Asian Le Mans seat
Five things to look out for at the F1 Mexico GP
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
9 h
Five things to look out for at the F1 Mexico GP
Every time NASCAR took a win away due yellow line violations
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
9 h
Every time NASCAR took a win away due yellow line violations
Feature
Discover prime content
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.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe