Yuki Tsunoda, who finished in 13th place at the 2025 Italian Grand Prix, collided with Red Bull’s sister team Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson, who placed right behind the Japanese pilot. Though it is undeniably frustrating on both ends, the two drivers took completely different stands about the situation.
While Tsunoda was far from impressed with Lawson’s driving, the Kiwi driver was not as annoyed as the Japanese driver.
Battle of the sister teams
Yuki Tsunoda made it into Q3 and qualified 10th on Saturday, hoping to finish in the points zone with a problem-free Italian Grand Prix in Monza. However, his chances of contention for the points were low as he was experiencing a lack of pace in his first stint.
Nevertheless, this wasn’t the main issue on Tsunoda’s way ahead of finishing in the top 10. After he collided with Liam Lawson and got floor damage, the fight was over.
Lawson, who started from the back of the field, came to the pit in the earlier laps of the race and raised his chances of getting in the top 10. Meanwhile, Tsunoda also changed his medium tyres and joined Lawson in the back. Nevertheless, the Japanese driver had a quicker pace than Lawson and tried to overtake him into the second chicane.
However, Lawson challenged Tsunoda and took the outside line, which resulted in a contact between the drivers of sister teams, Red Bull and Racing Bulls. Lawson’s left front tangled with the Japanese Red Bull driver’s rear right. This collision sent both of them to the escape road.
Although Lawson overtook Tsunoda, he had to hand the position back later in the lap.
Different points of view on the same situation
In his post-race interview, Tsunoda expressed his frustration over the collision. He claimed that although he did not have the details about his car yet, its downforce was way too damaged to keep fighting for points. He also noted that after the incident, he did not have much grip.
According to Tsunoda, Lawson had crossed the line with his move.
“Yeah, I mean, the pit stop was okay. I got distracted by Lawson, who made me a contact, and that was quite big enough to, I picked up damage and that was big enough to slow me down quite a lot. So, very frustrating and very unnecessary for me.
“I haven’t heard the specific details but it’s not even like a few points. Probably it’s really, really big.
“I don’t know what to say, to be honest. I was gaining one second per lap. He started last and he was not even fighting for points.
“I don’t know. I mean, if you’re fighting for points, there’s a room that I can understand. Because even with a sister team, we’re enemies. Especially, this position where I’m sitting now is probably my most high competition out of any world.
“But at the same time, there’s a line you can’t cross it and I mean, what’s the point? You know, I was fighting for points and he wasn’t. I don’t know what to say.”
In the meantime, Lawson was keen to gloss over the situation.
“Nothing really to it, honestly. He passed me in Turn 1. I tried to pass him back in Turn 4, and I had no room on the right-hand side. So, we touched, went through the chicane, and then I gave the place back.”
