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Motorsport

Yuki Tsunoda blames himself for "stupid" Imola F1 qualifying crash

Yuki Tsunoda Imola (Geopolitical Entity) Red Bull Grand Prix The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

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.

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

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Alexandra Saint Mleux walks in the Paddock with Leo Leclerc

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Alexander Albon, Williams

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Alexander Albon, Williams

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Ferrari fan

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Alex Albon, Williams

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Ferrari fans on a balcony

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Alex Albon, Williams

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Alex Albon, Williams

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday

Formula 1

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Owen Bellwood

Formula 1

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