Gasly Blames Tsunoda for Monaco Grand Prix Collision
Monaco – Pierre Gasly has attributed his retirement from the Monaco Grand Prix to a collision with Yuki Tsunoda, his former teammate, who he claims moved under braking. The incident occurred while both drivers were running low in the order, having undergone their first pit stops early on lap one.
As Gasly attempted to overtake Tsunoda at the chicane, he collided forcefully with the Red Bull driver. Initial radio messages from Gasly, which suggested braking issues, have since been clarified. "I had the brakes," he insisted, explaining the sequence of events leading to the crash. According to Gasly, Tsunoda’s positioning and movement while braking left him with no option but to commit to a right-side overtake.
"I just thought he would leave the space," Gasly commented. "It’s a track where it’s already hard enough. It’s not a case of ‘I go right, close the door to the right, and if you try to go left, I squeeze you to the left as well.’"
In contrast, Tsunoda defended his actions, asserting he felt no wrongdoing and would approach the situation the same way again. “I was hugging the wall… I didn’t want to move under braking,” he stated in response to claims of "erratic driving."
The incident reflects a challenging weekend for Alpine, with Gasly qualifying in 18th and team-mate Franco Colapinto at the rear. Colapinto’s race performance saw him finish 13th, indicating a difficult outing for the team overall. Gasly acknowledged that the A525 had vulnerabilities on the unique Monaco circuit, particularly in ride compliance over curbs.
Looking ahead to the Spanish Grand Prix, Gasly expressed optimism, citing the track’s high-speed corners and smoother surface as factors that could allow for an improved performance: "I think Barcelona should be better."
As teams prepare for the next race, both Gasly and Tsunoda will aim to learn from their Monaco experience and make necessary adjustments in the pursuit of championship points.
