17/05/2025
High Impact: Yuki Tsunoda Suffers Heavy Crash During Imola GP Qualifying Yuki Tsunoda was involved in a significant collision during the qualifying session for the Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola today, May 17, 2025. The incident prompted a red flag and temporarily halted the session. The Red Bull driver lost control of his RB21 machine at the Villeneuve chicane during the initial phase of qualifying (Q1). His car spun and made heavy contact with the inside wall, resulting in a violent impact that saw the car briefly roll before coming to rest in the gravel. Thankfully, despite the dramatic nature of the crash, Tsunoda was able to exit the car under his own power. He was immediately taken to the circuit's medical center for precautionary checks, a standard procedure following such high-impact incidents. Red Bull later confirmed that Tsunoda was checked and released from the medical centre, suffering no injuries. The crash caused significant damage to Tsunoda's car, presenting a substantial challenge for the Red Bull mechanics to repair it in time for tomorrow's race. As he failed to set a representative lap time before the incident, Tsunoda is expected to start the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix from the back of the grid, assuming the car can be successfully repaired. The qualifying session was stopped for approximately 15 minutes while marshals attended to the scene, cleared the debris, and assessed the barriers for damage. The session was later red-flagged again due to another incident involving Alpine's Franco Colapinto. Speaking after the crash, Tsunoda took responsibility for the incident, describing it as "unnecessary" and "stupid," and apologized to his team for the extra work created. This crash is a setback for Tsunoda, who had shown competitive pace during practice sessions at Imola. The focus now shifts to the Red Bull team's efforts to repair his car and Tsunoda's preparation for a race starting from the rear of the field.
