In a qualifying session filled with high drama at the 2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen expressed shock and disbelief at the severity of teammate Yuki Tsunoda’s crash during Q1 at Imola. The incident, which saw Tsunoda’s RB21 flip and barrel-roll after hitting the barriers at the Villeneuve chicane, brought out red flags and halted the session for 15 minutes, leaving the Formula 1 paddock collectively holding its breath.
Verstappen, who secured second place on the grid just 0.034 seconds behind pole-sitter Oscar Piastri, was quick to check on Tsunoda’s condition via radio during the incident. “At first, I asked if he was okay, and I heard, ‘Yeah, he’s okay,’ but then I saw the replay, and I’m like, ‘Jesus, is he really okay?’” Verstappen recounted in the post-qualifying press conference. “It was a big impact, a lot of damage as well, but most importantly, Yuki’s okay. I’ll probably see him in a bit.” The Dutchman’s reaction underscored the intensity of the crash, which saw Tsunoda’s car spin at high speed, take too much kerb, and slam into the tyre barriers at over 120 mph, flipping upside down before righting itself.
Tsunoda, who walked away unscathed and was cleared by the medical centre, was visibly frustrated with himself, calling the crash a “stupid mistake” and apologizing to his Red Bull team for the extensive damage to his car. “I’m just really stupid for myself, pushing like that,” Tsunoda said. “We made a lot of changes to the car, and I was pushing too hard without understanding enough about how it would react.” The Japanese driver, who had been promoted to the senior Red Bull team earlier in the season, will start Sunday’s race from the back of the grid, facing a tough challenge to score points at a track where overtaking is notoriously difficult.
The qualifying session was further disrupted by another crash, this time from Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, who spun into the barriers at Tamburello in the closing moments of Q1. Like Tsunoda, Colapinto emerged unharmed, but the incidents served as a stark reminder of Imola’s unforgiving nature. The circuit, steeped in history and tragedy, demands precision, and both drivers paid the price for slight misjudgments.
Despite the chaos, Verstappen delivered a strong performance, narrowly missing out on pole to McLaren’s Piastri, who continued his impressive form as the championship leader. Verstappen admitted the soft tyres were tricky to manage, noting, “Sector one was good, but then the tyres fell away from me. It was tiny margins.” He remained optimistic about his race prospects, emphasizing that points are scored on Sunday and expressing hope for a stable car to challenge the McLarens.
The session wasn’t without surprises elsewhere. Ferrari endured a disappointing day on home soil, with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton exiting in Q2, finishing 11th and 12th, respectively, to the dismay of the passionate tifosi. Meanwhile, Aston Martin’s upgrades paid dividends, with Fernando Alonso securing fifth and teammate Lance Stroll eighth, marking their best qualifying result of the season.