Last Updated on October 21 2025, 10:24 am
The Circuit of the Americas has hosted many iconic moments in Formula 1, but few could have predicted that this year’s US Grand Prix would feature a clash between the sport’s shortest driver and its youngest hopeful that looked more like an audition for Fast & Furious: Austin Drift. Yuki Tsunoda, ever the feisty teammate to Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing, found himself in the crosshairs of rookie Oliver Bearman of Haas F1. Emerging from the chaos, Bearman declared Tsunoda both “dangerous” and “desperate”.
Bearman had been enjoying a spirited race in his Haas, daring to dream of a top-seven finish, a result that would be considered somewhere between a podium and a small miracle for Haas. However, as he attempted to overtake Tsunoda on lap 35, his hopes were dashed. The Brit spun dramatically while Tsunoda continued, probably muttering something unprintable in two languages.
Bearman, however, was in no mood for forgiveness. In post-race interviews, he launched into what could only be described as an FIA-approved moral crusade.
“What he did was dangerous and goes against the spirit of racing and the image we should project to kids growing up in karting,” he said, as if he were single-handedly safeguarding the moral compass of future karting prodigies everywhere.
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The safety sermon
While Bearman’s sermon on sportsmanship may have drawn applause in a driver etiquette seminar, on the track it was Tsunoda who came out looking like the enforcer of his own unwritten law: Thou shalt not pass. The Haas driver claimed that Tsunoda ‘moved in reaction’ and ‘didn’t leave a car’s width’, which, in racing terms, translates as ‘I didn’t expect him to actually defend’.
He went further, suggesting that Tsunoda’s driving style could have caused “a huge crash without my quick avoidance”. Bearman’s quick thinking, and possibly quicker reflexes, prevented a scene worthy of a Netflix season finale. But the Briton wasn’t finished. In true Formula 1 fashion, he invoked the most sacred of post-race clichés: ‘the grey area’.
“It’s a grey area of the regulations,” he admitted. Which, to be fair, is a polite way of saying, ‘The stewards probably won’t bother.’
And indeed, they didn’t. Tsunoda escaped without a penalty, much to Bearman’s dismay, and perhaps to the quiet amusement of half the paddock.
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Desperate times call for desperate measures, Tsunoda!
Not content with just one example, Bearman added to his case file against Tsunoda by referencing Saturday’s sprint race, where Yuki’s enthusiasm exceeded the available grip.
“In the sprint race, he went up the inside at Turn 1 and took out a sister car,” Bearman noted, clearly still nursing emotional bruises from the chaos.
If the FIA ever installed a complaint box next to the drivers’ briefing room, Bearman would have filled it by the time he had finished.
“In the main race, he did the same thing at Turn 1 again. I feel like he’s driving a bit desperately, and that was evident in his defence,” he concluded, summarising Tsunoda’s weekend as a crash course in improvisational defending.
Of course, to Yuki, this was probably just another day at the office. After all, Tsunoda’s racing philosophy seems to be that if you can’t outscore your rivals, you should at least outscare them. His moves often straddle the fine line between brilliance and chaos, and at COTA, that line may have been etched in tyre smoke.
The curious case of selective outrage
Bearman’s outrage, while understandable, also carried a whiff of irony. Formula 1 thrives on double standards, and most veterans have defended the indefensible at some point when it suited them: Verstappen, Alonso and Schumacher have all built legacies by bending racing etiquette. Tsunoda, it seems, is simply following the great tradition of ‘firm but fair’ (read: occasionally terrifying) defence.
Perhaps Bearman’s frustration stems less from the move itself and more from its symbolism. Haas, forever the underdog, rarely finds itself battling for seventh place. When it does, the universe usually intervenes. In this case, the universe’s chosen instrument was a 5’3″ Japanese driver with a short fuse and an even longer memory.
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COTA’s moral of the story?
The fallout from this minor collision won’t change the championship standings, but it does demonstrate the fine line between aggression and recklessness, and how this line is often determined by who is giving the interview.
Tsunoda’s refusal to yield may be seen as “dangerous” by some, but to others it embodies the spirit of racing: elbows out, patience gone, and potential consequences looming.
For Bearman, it’s a lesson in the harsh realities of Formula 1. For Tsunoda, it’s just another Sunday.
As the dust settles in Texas, one thing is certain: Yuki Tsunoda remains one of the most entertaining enigmas on the grid. Whether he’s carving through corners or patience, he keeps things spicy. And for that, perhaps the jury, that’s you, dear reader, should be thankful.
After all, Formula 1 without a bit of chaos would just be glorified time trials. So, what do you think? Is Tsunoda a menace or just misunderstood?
MORE F1 NEWS – How the wheels came off McLaren’s title charge
Just five race weekends ago, Oscar Piastri was riding high and looked nailed on to claim the 2025 Formula One drivers’ championship. In fact after the Grand Prix in Zandvoort, The Australian driver was 104 points ahead of Max Verstappen and 34 points in front of his team mate Lando Norris.
Now with six Grand Prix remaining the picture looks very different. Verstappen has almost halved the gap to Piastri which stands at 55 points before the US Grand Prix, where the championship leader will start from a lowly sixth place. Further he is just 22 points behind Lando Norris who lines up alongside Verstappen on the front row of the grid in Austin, but Norris was 3/10ths behind the world champion after two runs in Q3, despite Verstappen failing to make the start/finish line in time to begin his second push lap in the session.
McLaren’s usual calm, collected leadership lost the plot yesterday when a turn one incident took out both of their cars at the start of the Sprint. Zak Brown reacted hastily calling it “amateur hour”, blaming Nico Hulkenberg for failing to utilise his years of experience.
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Andrea Stella refused to mention names, but insisted that “certain drivers” should have shown “more prudence”, something he repeated more than once in his frustration. Yet the replays clearly showed it was Oscar Piastri who caused the turn one chaos by his lack of experience when he practically stopped his car in turn one to attempt the cut back on his team mate.
Firstly the move was pointless give Norris had not run too deep and it would have left Piastri on the outside coming into the right hander of turn two. Secondly, there were always going to be cars on the Aussie’s inside given the high width of turn one at the Circuit of the Americas and his 180 degree steering lock manoeuvre left Hulkenmberg nowhere to go.
Zack Brown was later challenged over his initial views, admitting he couldn’t “put this one on Hulk.” Yet having punished Norris for his slight touch on his team mate in Singapore, questions will inevitably arise about how the team will now deal with Piastri. The mysterious “consequences” the team announced Lando would suffer on Saturday’s for the remainder of the…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
A senior writer at TJ13, C.J. Alderson serves as Senior Editor and newsroom coordinator, with a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing. Alderson’s professional training in media studies and experience managing content teams ensures TJ13 maintains consistency of voice and credibility. During race weekends, Alderson acts as desk lead, directing contributors and smoothing breaking stories for publication.
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
