F1 qualifying is HALTED as driver suffers scary crash with his car flipping over ahead of Imola Grand Prix

• The star is still getting used to his new team after receiving a recent promotion
• He suffered a scary moment as his car flipped 360 degrees in a nasty crash
• After being checked by medics, he was confirmed to be OK ahead of the race

By JONATHAN MCEVOY

Published: 15:48 BST, 17 May 2025 | Updated: 18:38 BST, 17 May 2025

Yuki Tsunoda escaped a 90mph smash that brought a dramatic halt to what turned into a nightmare qualifying session for Ferrari.

After taking too much kerb at Imola’s Villeneuve chicane, Tsunoda hurtled across the run-off area, spun backwards into the tyre barrier and flipped upside down, before his Red Bull righted itself to finish stricken in the gravel.

Tsunoda climbed out of the cockpit and was driven to the medical centre for checks – the ‘halo’ device having saved the Japanese driver from possible serious injury as he was bounced headfirst towards the ground.

A 15-minute delay ensued as the track was cleared.

Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, who lost his seat at the senior team to Tsunoda, exclaimed: ‘Oh my God! I just saw the video. Is he OK?’

Tsunoda was unhurt despite the big impact and is expected to compete in the 63-lap Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix today.

Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda suffered a scary crash in qualifying for the Imola Grand Prix

The Red Bull driver saw his car flip over 360 degrees as it hit the barrier and catch fence

On board-footage showed the brutal nature of the crash, with the halo protecting the driver

Tsunoda has been the partner of Max Verstappen (centre) for four races, working under Christian Horner (right)

Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, on his first outing for the French team, also crashed out of Q1, causing a second delay in proceedings. The Argentine was unharmed.

Which is more than can be said of Ferrari’s pride in front of their passionate Tifosi, as Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton qualified 11th and 12th on the track named after the Scuderia’s founder Enzo and his son Dino.

The TV cameras cut to Fred Vasseur, a team principal who finds himself chest-deep in the broth.

‘Super gutted,’ lamented Hamilton. ‘The car was genuinely feeling pretty good. We just can’t go quick enough.’

Leclerc was more despondent over the radio, wailing: ‘My God, my God, God, my God.’

Both Williamses and Aston Martins finished ahead of the red cars. In fact, Williams’ Carlos Sainz, who was jettisoned for Hamilton, has out-qualified his replacement four successive times.

Serene up front, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took his third pole of the season ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.034sec.

Piastri was three-tenths quicker than his team-mate Lando Norris, who trails him by 16 points at the top of the standings. ‘Lando collapses whenever there is a little bit of pressure,’ was 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve’s bruising verdict.

George Russell separated the two papaya cars. Starting third is another indicator of his impressive form for Mercedes.

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F1 qualifying is HALTED as driver suffers scary crash with his car flipping over ahead of Imola Grand Prix

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