Thrilling Chaos at the Monaco Grand Prix: Pérez and Haas Drivers in Dramatic Collision on Lap One

MONTE CARLO, Monaco —

The prestigious Monaco Grand Prix, renowned for its glamorous setting and thrilling races, experienced an electrifying start that left fans on the edge of their seats. In a dramatic turn of events, a collision involving Sergio Pérez and both Haas drivers brought the race to a sudden halt on the very first lap.

Full crash clip here https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/40221970

As the cars sped up the iconic hill from Turn 1, Haas driver Kevin Magnussen collided with Pérez, causing a chain reaction that would ultimately suspend the race. Magnussen, positioned on the inside as the corner veered right, found himself squeezed into Pérez. The impact sent Pérez crashing heavily into the wall, and as he ricocheted back onto the track, he inadvertently collected Magnussen’s teammate, Nico Hülkenberg.

The crash left Pérez’s car severely damaged, while both Haas cars were rendered inoperable. Miraculously, all three drivers emerged unscathed from the wreckage, a testament to the robust safety measures in modern Formula 1 racing.

The race stewards noted the incident but decided against launching a further investigation, a decision that may spark debate among fans and analysts alike. Notably, Magnussen is precariously close to a one-race ban, being just two penalty points away from the limit.

The chaotic first lap didn’t end there. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz also found trouble, suffering a front-left puncture as he ascended the hill, causing him to go off track. Further drama unfolded as Alpine teammates Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon collided while entering the tunnel section, adding to the tumultuous start of the race.

After a brief suspension, the race resumed with a standing grid restart, mimicking the initial race start. Despite the chaos and an off-track excursion, Sainz managed to restart from the third position, thanks to the timing of the red flag.

For fans eager to catch every moment of this exhilarating race, watch ESPN’s F1 show, “Unlapped,” for comprehensive coverage and expert analysis.

The Monaco Grand Prix, once again, delivered the unexpected, proving why it remains one of the most exciting and unpredictable events in the Formula 1 calendar.