The seventh race weekend of the 2025 Formula 1 season at Imola took a sudden and shocking turn on Saturday when Yuki Tsunoda endured a terrifying crash during qualifying.
The young Red Bull driver, still settling into his new team after a recent promotion, faced one of the toughest moments of his career — but thankfully walked away unharmed.
The Moment the Crash Happened
Tsunoda lost control at the Villeneuve chicane, a tricky section of the circuit.
As he clipped too much kerb, his car spun backwards uncontrollably.
What followed was a dramatic sequence: his car smashed into the tyre barriers and catch fence, flipped completely upside down in a 360-degree spin, and finally came to rest stuck in the gravel trap.
The terrifying sight left everyone holding their breath.
Thanks to the protective halo device, which shielded him as he tumbled headfirst toward the ground, Tsunoda escaped serious injury.
Medics quickly checked him over at the trackside medical center and confirmed he was okay — a huge relief to fans and teammates alike.
Impact on the Session and the Championship Battle
The crash caused a 15-minute stoppage as track officials cleared the debris and repaired the damaged barriers.
This delay added to an already tense qualifying session, with teams scrambling for the best setup and fastest times.
The race weekend at Imola has been crucial for drivers like Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton.
Both have been trying to turn their seasons around — Norris hoping to break his winless streak since Australia’s opening race, and Hamilton eager to find his footing with Ferrari after a rough start.
Meanwhile, Red Bull’s season has been far from smooth.
Max Verstappen leads the charge, but the team has been shaken up by swapping out Liam Lawson for Tsunoda, who has had a challenging adjustment period himself.
Saturday’s crash was yet another bump in the road for the young driver.
Expert Reactions and Team Responses
Commentator and ex-Red Bull driver David Coulthard described the crash as a result of Tsunoda pushing aggressively at a difficult part of the track, saying, “He got more aggressive than we’ve seen before on that tricky left-hand turn.”
Former mechanic Marc Priestley weighed in on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, noting the severity of the incident.
“The car did a complete 360 and landed upside down before righting itself.
There’s a lot of damage to the car and the barriers, so repairs will take some time.”
Fellow drivers were visibly shaken as well. Lawson exclaimed in disbelief after seeing the footage, “Oh my God! Is he okay?”
Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, making his debut for the French team after replacing Jack Doohan, also crashed out early but was thankfully unharmed.