F1 Imola GP Qualifying Halted by Devastating Yuki Tsunoda Crash

Qualifying at the 2025 Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix came to an abrupt halt after a dramatic accident involving Yuki Tsunoda. The Red Bull Racing driver crashed heavily in Q1 at the Villeneuve chicane, losing control of his RB21 and smashing into the inside wall with significant force.

As Tsunoda’s car hit the barrier, it flipped into a barrel roll, landing upright in the gravel trap. Despite the violent impact, Tsunoda climbed out of the car without injury, drawing applause from spectators in the nearby grandstands.

He was immediately checked by FIA medical personnel and appeared unharmed as he left the incident scene. The incident brought out a red flag with just over 12 minutes left in the first segment of qualifying.

At that moment, only half the drivers on track had posted a lap time, leaving many at risk of not advancing to Q2. Race officials gave an initial estimate of 16:20 local time for the session restart as marshals repaired the barriers and cleaned up debris from Tsunoda’s wrecked car.

The crash caused significant damage to his RB21, presenting a major challenge for the Red Bull team to complete repairs before the start of Sunday’s race. Tsunoda’s crash marked a sudden setback during what had been a promising weekend for the Japanese driver.

On Friday, he had run competitive laps in practice sessions, frequently finishing within a tenth of Max Verstappen. The early part of Saturday’s qualifying was shaping up to be another strong showing for Red Bull until the dramatic crash upended their plans.

This was Tsunoda’s first major incident since joining the senior Red Bull team, and it came after a string of solid performances in recent races. The interruption forced all drivers back to the pits and left teams scrambling to adjust their strategies for the rest of qualifying.

Only ten drivers had set official lap times before the red flag, with several top contenders still needing to secure safe passage to the next round. The lengthy stoppage also meant changing track conditions, which could affect tire strategies once the session resumed.

As marshals worked quickly to repair the barrier at Villeneuve, fans and teams waited to see how the remaining minutes of Q1 would play out. Red Bull now faces a challenging rebuild of Tsunoda’s car with limited time available.

The focus shifts to whether the Japanese driver will be able to rejoin competition for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix the following day, pending the team’s repair efforts and any required FIA checks. The Imola weekend has already delivered high drama and raised concerns about the risks on such a fast, old-school circuit.

Tsunoda’s escape without injury is a testament to current Formula 1 safety standards, while the impact of his crash will shape the final grid and headlines heading into race day.

The crash caused significant damage to his RB21, presenting a major challenge for the Red Bull team to complete repairs before the start of Sunday’s race.

The early part of Saturday’s qualifying was shaping up to be another strong showing for Red Bull until the dramatic crash upended their plans, forcing teams into a redemption route to adapt quickly.