Red Bull F1 Star Escapes Punishment After Post-Race Investigation at Saudi GP
In a dramatic turn of events at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Red Bull Formula 1 driver Yuki Tsunoda found himself in hot water after a lap one collision with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly. The crash forced both drivers to retire from the race and led to a summons by the FIA race stewards for Tsunoda and Gasly after the race concluded.
The stewards initially pointed fingers at Tsunoda, accusing him of causing the crash with Gasly’s car. However, in a surprising twist, an official FIA document later revealed that no further action would be taken against either driver. The incident was ultimately deemed a racing incident, allowing Tsunoda and Gasly to escape punishment.
The intense crash occurred at turn four, triggering a safety car on the first lap as track marshals rushed to clear Gasly’s stricken car. Despite attempting to soldier on, Tsunoda was forced to retire due to the extensive damage sustained during the collision.
Tsunoda’s rollercoaster ride with Red Bull continued at the Saudi GP, following a series of mixed performances since his promotion to the main Red Bull team. Despite a promising eighth-place qualifying result, marking the first time since the 2024 Azerbaijan GP that both Red Bull cars secured top-eight positions in qualifying, Tsunoda’s race was cut short by the early crash.
Having accumulated two points in three races with Red Bull, Tsunoda has outperformed his predecessors Sergio Perez and Liam Lawson, showcasing flashes of potential amidst the challenges of adapting to a new team and car.
As the F1 season unfolds, the spotlight remains on Tsunoda as he navigates the highs and lows of elite motorsport competition, eager to make his mark on the prestigious Red Bull Racing team.