Liam Lawson Dismisses Clash with Yuki Tsunoda at F1 Italian GP

Liam Lawson Dismisses Clash with Yuki Tsunoda at F1 Italian GP

Why it matters: The incident highlights the intense competition within the Red Bull family of teams, particularly as Yuki Tsunoda faces pressure to secure a 2026 contract.

The incident: During Lap 30 of the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix, Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson and Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda made contact three times at Turn 4.

• Lawson locked up attempting an overtake, colliding with Tsunoda.
• Both drivers cut the corner, with Lawson initially emerging ahead before immediately ceding the position.

Lawson's take:

• "It was just nothing really to it, honestly," Lawson stated.
• He explained, "he passed me in Turn 1, I tried to pass him back in Turn 4 and I had no room on the right-hand side, so we touched, went through the chicane and then I gave the place back."
• Lawson described the race as "frustrating" due to a soft tire gamble but remained positive about the car's pace.

Tsunoda's take:

• Tsunoda viewed the contact as "quite big" and "very frustrating and very unnecessary."
• He reported picking up "damage that was big enough to slow me down quite a lot."
• Tsunoda emphasized that he was fighting for points while Lawson, who started last, was not, stating, "there's a line, you can't cross it."

The bigger picture:

• Tsunoda is under considerable pressure to demonstrate his worth for a 2026 contract, having scored only nine points since replacing Lawson ahead of the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix.
• The incident underscores the high stakes for drivers in the Red Bull ecosystem.