Yuki Tsunoda Starts Imola GP from Pitlane After Massive Crash Damage

Yuki Tsunoda will start the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix from the pitlane after a dramatic crash in qualifying left his Red Bull Racing RB21 with major damage. The incident happened at the fast Villeneuve chicane towards the end of sector one.

Tsunoda lost control of his car, making heavy contact with the inside wall. The Japanese driver’s car flipped over but Tsunoda emerged unhurt and passed medical checks trackside.

Image credit: www.planetf1.com

Red Bull’s crew faced a huge repair job as the crash left the original chassis beyond use. The team assembled a new RB21 monocoque for Tsunoda overnight.

Along with the chassis swap, Tsunoda received a new Honda power unit—his third of the 2025 season—plus several replacement parts including a fresh battery and new control electronics. These changes, made under parc fermé, mean Tsunoda now exceeds his permitted allocation of certain components for the season.

However, the required pitlane start absorbs additional grid penalties. In a formal report, FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer confirmed that the team used components of different specification to make the car race-ready.

This triggered the Article 40.9 a) rule in the sporting regulations, which states that cars rebuilt in this manner must start from the pitlane, regardless of qualifying position. Tsunoda had qualified in Q1 before his accident halted progress, marking a tough end to a weekend where he was running the same floor upgrade as his teammate Max Verstappen for the first time.

Image credit: www.autoweek.com

Tsunoda was open about his mistake, calling the crash avoidable and admitting he pushed too hard in early qualifying. He said, “I’m just really stupid… pushing like that.”

Tsunoda added that they had made many changes to the car and that he should not have risked so much without knowing more about its handling. The comments reflect his disappointment after a weekend expected to show progress with the car’s new updates.

It has been a busy period for Tsunoda, who earlier in the season showed flashes of pace, including a climb to sixth in the Miami Sprint after a series of penalties hit other drivers. However, this crash and the resulting pitlane start mark a setback as he looks to score more points for Red Bull Racing.

The team had high hopes at Imola, with both cars receiving upgrades and Verstappen targeting another win. Despite the crash, Tsunoda’s quick exit from his car and immediate medical clearance meant there were no injuries.

Red Bull Racing managed to ready the rebuilt car in time for the race, showing the pit crew’s preparedness for unexpected events. The garage now shifts focus to the race, where Tsunoda will have to start from the pitlane and work his way through the field, hoping to rescue a result. This kind of pitlane start has challenged drivers before at Imola.

Fans and analysts will be watching Tsunoda’s performance closely at Imola. After accepting blame, he aims to rebuild his confidence and compete strongly in the Grand Prix, despite the challenging circumstances.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.