Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson clashed mid-race at the Italian Grand Prix, resulting in damage to Tsunoda’s Red Bull RB21 and drawing sharp criticism from Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko. The incident, which occurred near the Roggia chicane at Monza, has raised concerns over Tsunoda’s future with the team ahead of a key driver decision for 2025.
Details of the Collision Between Tsunoda and Lawson at Monza
The on-track battle between Red Bull drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson turned costly when their cars made contact, with Tsunoda’s rear right wheel touching Lawson’s front left. Both drivers ran off the circuit, though they managed to continue the race. Tsunoda, who started ninth, was slowed by floor damage and finished 13th, while Lawson came in 14th. This collision disrupted Tsunoda’s chances of scoring points and intensified scrutiny on his performance.
Helmut Marko expressed his disappointment sharply after the race.
“There was an unnecessary collision with Lawson,”
he said during an interview with PlanetF1.com’s Thomas Maher and other media representatives at Monza.
“I don’t know how bad the damage was. His pace, there was no pace.”
Marko’s criticism intensified in comments to Sky Deutschland, where he labeled the incident “incredibly stupid” and indicated the damage was significant:
“The collision with Lawson from our own team was incredibly stupid. It seems to have damaged the car severely.”
The comments highlight the internal frustrations regarding the incident between two drivers considered potential Red Bull race seats for the future.
Context of Tsunoda’s Current Performance and Team Dynamics
Tsunoda’s status within Red Bull remains under pressure amid his ongoing battle to maintain a place on the 2025 grid. Since moving from Red Bull’s junior outfit, Racing Bulls, to the senior team ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, Tsunoda has accumulated only nine points over 14 races and has reached the final qualifying session, Q3, six times. Despite qualifying at Monza, the collision prevented him from converting that into a valuable points finish.
Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Motorsport director, was asked about how the team will assess drivers competing for a seat alongside Max Verstappen next season. Mekies emphasized performance criteria, stating:
“So, the same as on you guys, quali pace, race pace, that’s what we look at, it’s as simple as that.”
Defending Tsunoda’s weekend at Monza, Mekies acknowledged the challenges:
“Today’s race for Yuki is difficult to read, because of the traffic in the first stint, damage in the second stint.”
He added that Tsunoda’s qualifying performance was positive despite the difficult circumstances:
“He was two tenths from Max in Q1. Max was not exactly slow this weekend and with a small deficit from the car, he was two tenths from Max in Q2.”
Mekies noted the impact of track position during qualifying:
“There is no doubt everybody is pushing 100 per cent in Q2, and yes, the gap was bigger in Q3, but first he put the car in Q3, which is a very good performance, and second, he was first on the road in Q3. It didn’t help as well.”
Regarding race pace, Mekies commented,
“I think short run pace was a very good sample for Yuki, long run pace, it’s frustrating not to have a clean race day.”
Implications for Red Bull’s 2025 Driver Lineup Decision
The incident between Tsunoda and Lawson comes at a crucial moment, with Red Bull due to decide who will join Max Verstappen next season. Initially expected to make the call over the summer break, the decision timeline has shifted, with Marko confirming that the team will observe more races before deciding. He told Sky Deutschland,
“We’ve extended the options, or rather, the drivers have extended them with us.”
Marko indicated the decision will come later in the year:
“So, around September or October, we want to have a few more races to observe, and then we’ll make the decisions.”
This suggests Red Bull wants a clearer picture of driver progress before finalizing their lineup.
The collision at Monza, described as “incredibly stupid” by Marko, not only damaged Tsunoda’s race but also may have weakened his standing within the team. With the 25-year-old fighting to secure his Formula 1 future, the pressure is mounting to demonstrate consistent performance without costly mistakes. How both Tsunoda and Lawson handle the final races of the season could heavily influence the team’s choices for 2025.
