Helmut Marko has confirmed that Yuki Tsunoda remains safe in his Red Bull seat despite a dramatic crash during qualifying at Imola.
The 25-year-old Japanese driver, who was promoted to the senior team in place of Liam Lawson after the New Zealander's rocky start to 2025, flipped his car into the barriers in Q1 and admitted fault.
"Five races now in the Red Bull," Tsunoda said. "It was just really stupid of me. I'm trying to be the hero in Q1. The way in which I did it is just unacceptable."
He was immediately taken to the medical centre after the heavy impact.
"Thank God he's fine," Marko told Sky Deutschland. "He needs to be examined again, then he'll be cleared to race or not. Mainly because of the rollover, he needs another fitness or health check."
Although relieved about Tsunoda's condition, the 82-year-old Red Bull advisor didn't hide the frustration.
"It's a huge setback for us," Marko admitted. "We've got three races in a row now, and Monte Carlo isn't exactly forgiving if you slip up there. The spare parts situation has become really critical."
Ex-F1 driver Timo Glock said the crash could have serious personal consequences for Tsunoda, calling it the latest sign of a pattern among Verstappen's teammates.
"He joins the ranks of other teammates who, alongside Verstappen, have simply been mercilessly buried," said Glock.
"It's just like it was with Lawson or Sergio Perez.
Once that whirlwind starts and you make mistakes and crash, the pressure starts to build. And then you see Verstappen repeatedly doing the impossible, putting the car in front, winning races, and you're stuck somewhere behind.
"That has been absolute mental devastation for every teammate so far," he added.
Making matters worse for Tsunoda is the meteoric rise of French rookie Isack Hadjar, who has been impressing Marko at Racing Bulls.
Saturday's crash, Glock believes, could not have come at a worse time.
"Now we see the next one behind him, putting the pressure on, which is Isack Hadjar," he said. "That's just the merciless nature of Formula 1."
Still, Marko is not adding to the weight already pressing on Tsunoda's shoulders.
"We have to give him security and support now," Marko said. "And that's what we'll do."
According to Tsunoda, Red Bull is doing just that.
"The team is doing enough to keep the pressure off me," he said.
However, tensions at Imola didn't stop with the crash. After flipping off Franco Colapinto with the middle finger during an earlier incident, Tsunoda found himself under fire from Argentine fans online — some of whom reportedly crossed a line.
"I heard about it," he said. "But they are not only after me. They're also after Jack Doohan."
Tsunoda quickly defended the Australian Alpine reserve.
"Jack has done nothing wrong. That is unnecessary," said the Japanese driver. "I know that fans support the drivers from their own country, but there should still be room to say something.""I know that fans support the drivers from their own country, but there should still be room to say something."
