During the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix on lap 8, Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly were involved in a collision at the Nouvelle Chicane when Gasly drove into the rear of Tsunoda’s Red Bull RB21. This incident prompted an intense radio exchange as Tsunoda, frustrated with his former teammate, questioned Gasly’s motives for causing the crash. The focus on the Monaco track intensified as Tsunoda blasted Pierre Gasly Monaco collision over team radio, clearly showing his displeasure.
The Frenchman’s rear-tire lockup after exiting the famous tunnel caused him to lose control of his Alpine A525, forcing his front left tire into the back of Tsunoda’s car. The impact severely damaged the rear of Tsunoda’s vehicle. Immediately after the collision, Tsunoda’s reaction was audible on radio communications as he called Gasly an “idiot” for what he described as an unprovoked crash.
“Is he an idiot? What is he doing?” —Yuki Tsunoda
Build-Up to the Collision: F2 Crash Hints at F1 Trouble
Earlier that day, the F2 main race featured an incident that some saw as a harbinger for the F1 race later. Gabriel Bortoleto crashed at the Portier section during the first lap of the F2 event, setting a tense tone for Monaco’s racing action. Still, the major collision that captured attention happened in the F1 race when Tsunoda, running with the lower half of the field on an alternate race strategy, was leading the pack closely followed by Gasly.
Gasly’s error at the Nouvelle Chicane proved costly not only for himself but also for Tsunoda, as their clash interrupted both drivers’ race rhythm and impacted their chances of scoring points in Monaco’s demanding street circuit environment.
Yuki Tsunoda’s Progress and Confidence with Red Bull
This season marks Yuki Tsunoda’s first as a full Red Bull driver after spending five years with the team‘s junior program. He earned his promotion at his home Grand Prix and replaced Liam Lawson in the senior squad. Tsunoda quickly began to showcase his ability by earning points at the following race in Bahrain and has since shown steady progress in performance and confidence.
Reflecting on his adaptation to the Red Bull RB21 car, Tsunoda acknowledged he is still learning the intricacies of the car, particularly in terms of tire management and setup. He emphasized the importance of understanding the car fully to maximize performance on track.
“In terms of confidence, I’m happy, considering I’ve only done a few races and it’s going to grow. For now I’m trying to understand how this car works, how to put it in the window it wants, from the point of view of tyre warm-up and set-up. I don’t think I understand even half of it yet. These things are the key I’m trying to work on to understand as soon as possible.” —Yuki Tsunoda
Current Race Status and Strategic Outlook at Monaco
At lap 29 of the Monaco GP, Tsunoda was positioned 14th on the road after making his first pit stop. Given the two-stop strategy requirements of this race, he is expected to pit again before the end of lap 78. Despite the setback caused by the collision with Gasly, Tsunoda remains in contention to capitalize on his alternative strategy and potentially score points in a challenging and unpredictable race.
Both Tsunoda and Gasly’s incident highlights the pressure of racing on Monaco’s tight streets, where even minor errors can lead to significant consequences. For Tsunoda, the clash with Gasly not only disrupted his race but also intensified their rivalry, drawing attention to the challenges drivers face when running close together in high-stakes environments.
