Marko reveals who he blames in Tsunoda vs Lawson Monza crash
Yuki Tsunoda. Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
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A filmmaker with a soft spot for Ronnie Peterson, Gilles Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen and above all, Tazio Nuvolari and Ayrton Senna, is also a diehard Formula One fan since the age of 4 (mid-90's). An avid researcher of the past of Grand Prix Racing since before it was even named F1, and with a thirst for knowledge of the ins and outs of the actuality of the sport, as well as for the technical aspects that define it, is a member of GPblog since 2023, where he has put his love of racing to good use.
Yuki Tsunoda was able to make Q3 in Monza, a feat that has eluded the Japanese often since he took over the second Red Bull seat. Nevertheless, his qualifying efforts proved useless following a crash with sister team driver Liam Lawson, an incident which Red Bull chief advisor Helmut Marko judges fiercely.
Tsunoda has often received a vote of confidence from Laurent Mekies ever since the Frenchman took over duties from ousted Christian Horner, with the Japanese's progression often being mentioned in statements to media.
In Italy, having made it into Q3, where Max Verstappen took pole position ahead of both McLaren's and both Ferrari's, Tsunoda instead was the slowest of the 10 drivers taking place in the qualifying shootout. Following the enforcement of Lewis Hamilton's penalty the second driver at Red Bull Racing's P10 converted into P9.
At the start Tsunoda lost a position to Hamilton, and then gained one on Andrea Kimi Antonelli who'd dropped 4 places at lights out. As the race progressed the Japanese driver became stuck in traffic, which prompted an early pit stop call to try and get him out in free air.
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Italian GP goes wrong for Tsunoda, sparks Marko's wrath
Tsunoda emerged from the pit lane with a new set of hard tyres, ahead of Racing Bulls driver, Liam Lawson.
As the two battled over position, contact ensued damaging the Red Bull driver's RB21 severely and stripping his chances of a points finish, which Isack Hadjar was the only Red Bull talent - aside from Max Verstappen, victor of the 2025 Italian Grand Prix - who managed to do so.
Speaking to GPblog after the race Marko judged the incident between both drivers
“There was an unnecessary collision with Lawson,” Marko said of the crash. “I don’t know how bad the damage was. His [Tsunoda's] pace? There was no pace!"
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The Austrian followed up his comments further in an interview with Sky's German branch revealing a more critical side to his view.
“The collision with Lawson from our own team was incredibly stupid,” he said. “It seems to have damaged the car severely.”
Tsunoda and Lawson, Red Bull hopefuls for 2026
Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson are both vying for a seat at Red Bull come 2026, with the Japanese driver's contract expiring at the end of the 2025 season, as Lawson's is as well.
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Rookie Isack Hadjar who most recently celebrated his first ever F1 podium in the Netherless and in Italy completed a stellar driver which saw him go from a pit lane start to P10 is also a candidate to take the seat alongside Max Verstappen next year, a decision which, however, the Austrian outfit still is yet to make.
Thus Tsunoda and Lawson would be wise to keep their cars in the top 10 and in one piece, if they wish to make a good impression on Red Bull's management that sees their F1 careers stretch into the sport's new era.
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