Helmut Marko Slams Yuki Tsunoda for 'Incredibly Stupid' Collision with Liam Lawson at Monza

Helmut Marko has sharply criticized Yuki Tsunoda for an "incredibly stupid" collision with Red Bull stablemate Liam Lawson at the Italian Grand Prix, which damaged Tsunoda's car and ended his hopes for points.

Why it matters

This error comes at a critical time for Tsunoda, who is actively competing for a Red Bull seat and his Formula 1 future. Such missteps are heavily scrutinized by team management.

The collision

Midway through the Italian Grand Prix, Tsunoda and Lawson went wheel-to-wheel near the Roggia chicane. After Tsunoda overtook, Lawson tried to reclaim the position, leading to contact.

• Tsunoda's front-left wheel hit Lawson's rear-right. Both drivers briefly went off track.
• Tsunoda's RB21 sustained floor damage, hindering his performance. Starting ninth, he finished 13th, just ahead of Lawson.

Marko's stern assessment

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko was unequivocal.

• He called it "an unnecessary collision with Lawson," noting Tsunoda's subsequent lack of pace.
• Marko told Sky Deutschland, "The collision with Lawson from our own team was incredibly stupid. It seems to have damaged the car severely."

Team's perspective

Racing Bulls Team Principal Laurent Mekies defended Tsunoda's weekend despite the race incident.

• Mekies highlighted Tsunoda's strong qualifying, being just two-tenths off Max Verstappen in Q1 and Q2.
• He noted the race was "difficult to read" due to traffic and the damage.
• Mekies reiterated "quali pace, race pace" as key metrics for driver evaluation.

What's next

The incident precedes Red Bull's decision on its next season's driver lineup, expected around September or October. The Monza clash will undoubtedly factor into the critical evaluations for Tsunoda's F1 career.