The 19th round of the 2025 Formula 1 season at the United States Grand Prix sparked controversy between rookie Oliver Bearman and Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda following an attempted collision at Turn 15. The incident, which occurred midway through the race while the two were battling for seventh place, left Bearman furious and prompted differing reactions from F1 veterans and commentators.
During the clash, Bearman attempted an ambitious dive down the inside of Turn 15, but Tsunoda braked and blocked his line. Bearman spun, avoided a collision, and dropped two positions. After the race, Bearman criticized Tsunoda, calling the move “extremely dangerous and unfair” and saying it “goes against the spirit of racing.” He also cited Tsunoda’s earlier weekend incident with Isaac Hajjar in the sprint race as evidence of reckless driving.
Tsunoda, however, denied any wrongdoing, insisting, “I don’t remember moving while braking,” and defended his actions, stating that he was simply protecting his position in a fight for the top 10.
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Jenson Button’s perspective: measured analysis
2009 F1 World Champion and Sky Sports commentator Jenson Button offered a balanced view on the controversy. Regarding Turn 15, he sided with Bearman: “I think Yuki was at fault for Turn 15. He braked incredibly early, which impacted the cars behind, and it looked like he was reacting to Ollie’s move in the braking zone.” Button noted that Tsunoda nearly went off track while trying to defend and was reacting in real time.
However, Button defended Bearman’s aggressive attack at Turn 1 earlier in the race, describing it as “fair racing.”
He added,
“A driver should do everything possible to get back into position, except with Ollie, where I think he went a little too far.”
Button emphasized that while Tsunoda’s defense could have been sharper, Bearman also displayed some immaturity in assessing risk.
Tsunoda under pressure, yet resilient
Despite ongoing uncertainty over his 2026 seat, Tsunoda has remained aggressive and focused in recent races. He has managed to score points in three of the last five races and has steadily regained confidence and composure. Button highlighted that while controversial, Tsunoda avoided serious mistakes, demonstrating mental maturity under pressure.
Red Bull’s decision on their driver lineup for next season is expected after the Mexican Grand Prix, making the stakes high for Tsunoda as he continues to balance aggressive driving with point-scoring consistency.
Key takeaways
- Turn 15 incident: Button attributes fault to Tsunoda’s defensive reaction and early braking.
- Turn 1 moves: Button defends Bearman’s attack as fair racing, noting some minor over-aggression.
- Tsunoda’s mental resilience: Despite controversial moves, he continues to deliver points and maintain composure under pressure.
The episode underscores the fine line between aggressive racing and overstepping limits, especially for young drivers like Bearman trying to establish themselves in F1.
