Rivals at odds over who caused first-lap crash in Saudi Arabian GP
Both Tsunoda and Gasly insist there was nothing they could do in their Jeddah collision
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly have both refused to accept the blame for causing a race-ending crash for each driver in Jeddah.
Tsunoda’s Red Bull made contact with the Alpine of Gasly at Turn 4 on the opening lap of the race.
It was one of a series of exciting manoeuvres on lap one, with race winner Oscar Piastri tangling with Max Verstappen at the front, earning the Dutchman a five-second time penalty.
But it was the other Red Bull of Tsunoda that banged wheels with Gasly before both were sent spinning into the barriers.
Tsunoda said: “It's hard to blame either me or Pierre. I've done as much as I can to avoid it.
“I was fully in control in terms of speed and I was not, like, almost crashing into the car in front, which was Carlos [Sainz].
“I was fully in control and I tried to avoid as much as I can, to not hit Pierre, especially that probably it is the most-tight corner of this track.
“It is a shame how it ended up. You could say there was space but from my point of view I had no space and I tried to slow down to avoid it.”
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
Meanwhile Gasly, who was seventh last time out in Bahrain in a positive result for the Frenchman, said he was also not to blame.
He said: “There's no need to say too much about it. I know him. It was never intentional but on my side, I had a good line coming into Turn 4, I could brake quite late and try and leave as much space as I could on the outside of Turn 4.
“So I already have the car pass the white line. I had to keep my two wheels inside the track to make sure the pass was done.
“I mean, at the end of the day, it's a tiny touch, but it's just a shame it’s put a stop to both of our races.”
Photos from Saudi Arabian GP - Race
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday
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