Yuki Tsunoda, the young Red Bull junior driver, expressed deep disappointment following a collision with teammate Pierre Gasly during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, labeling the incident “a great shame.” The crash, which occurred early in the race, cost Tsunoda valuable track time and a chance to gather critical data for his development in the highly competitive Formula 1 season.
The incident took place on Lap 12 at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, when Tsunoda, attempting an overtake, made contact with Gasly’s car, resulting in damage to both vehicles. Tsunoda was forced to retire from the race, while Gasly continued but struggled with compromised performance. The collision not only disrupted their race but also hindered the team’s ability to collect data crucial for fine-tuning their cars ahead of the next Grand Prix.
“It’s a great shame,” Tsunoda said in a post-race interview with Sky Sports F1. “We were in a good position to learn and improve, especially on a track like this. It’s frustrating because these are the moments we need to maximize as a team. I’ll review the footage and see what I could’ve done differently.”
The Saudi Arabian GP was seen as a key opportunity for Tsunoda, who has been under scrutiny to prove his worth for a potential future seat with Red Bull Racing. The 23-year-old Japanese driver has shown flashes of brilliance this season but has also faced criticism for inconsistency. The collision with Gasly, a seasoned driver and former race winner, adds pressure on Tsunoda to refine his racecraft.
Gasly, while disappointed, took a more measured tone. “It’s racing, these things happen,” he told reporters. “We’ll sit down as a team, analyze it, and move forward. The important thing is to keep pushing for points in the next race.”
AlphaTauri, the Red Bull sister team, also expressed frustration over the lost opportunity. Team principal Franz Tost noted, “Both drivers are talented, but incidents like this set us back. We need to ensure we’re maximizing every session, especially with the tight competition in the midfield.”