Yuki Tsunoda was left to ponder what might have been at the Italian Grand Prix after his bid to make it back-to-back points finishes came undone via a collision with Liam Lawson.
Lawson and Tsunoda found themselves sharing the same piece of track midway through Sunday’s race at Monza – the Racing Bulls driver having pitted early on a soft-hard tyre strategy and the Red Bull man stopping a few laps later on a medium-hard approach.
Drama ensued heading into the Roggia chicane when Lawson attempted a move around the outside, only for his front-left tyre to make contact with the rear-right of Tsunoda’s – sending both drivers over the run-off area.
While the position was returned to him, Tsunoda picked up significant damage on the floor of his car and could only work his way back to 13th by the chequered flag, which he took a couple of seconds up on Lawson.
Reflecting on his race, and that incident, Tsunoda said: “The first stint was okay, and in the second stint I got distracted by a guy who was not even fighting for the points. I picked up so much damage, which was enough to make me slow down enough… to have bad pace.
“It’s very frustrating, to be honest. I was fighting for points and… [it was] a very unnecessary move from Lawson. I don’t know what to say.”
Asked if he will go and talk to Lawson, the Japanese racer added: “We know that he’s an aggressive driver, and I think it’s not a bad thing, but at the same time there’s always a line that we can’t step over and be beyond. Especially when we’re [under] the same [Red Bull family] roof.
“Obviously with his position, it’s a seat that probably can be very high competition [to secure], more than anywhere else. At the same time, there’s always a line and there’s a respect, so it’s a shame.”
Lawson then shared his side after going aggressive with his tyre strategy following a back-of-the grid start, brought on by the New Zealander’s mistake at the end of Q1.
“We tried a gamble to make something out of it, and it just didn’t work,” he sighed. “I think it nearly worked, just a couple of cars came out around us, they were on fresh tyres, and we just lost a lot of time. It was tough from where we were starting.
“[With Tsunoda], he passed me, I tried to pass him back, and he just squeezed me in the braking zone. We both went off, so I gave the position back, but… I was on the edge of the track, so it was close.”
