In the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, Sergio Perez from Red Bull faced an early exit as he got eliminated on the very first lap.
The Monaco Grand Prix was red-flagged on the opening lap, due to a terrifying crash involving Red Bull’s Sergio Perez.
Sergio Perez clambered out of his Red Bull following a collision between himself and the two Haas drivers, leaving debris scattered all over the Monte Carlo circuit.
Monaco Grand Prix red-flagged following Sergio Perez collision
Perez found himself engaged in a battle with Kevin Magnussen as they made their way up the hill out of Ste. Devote, starting from the back of the grid. Determined to maintain his position, Perez skillfully defended against Magnussen’s relentless pursuit, with the Danish driver closely aligning his front wheels with the rear wheels of the Red Bull as the gap between them diminished.
As the two cars collided, Perez found himself spinning into the barriers, while he and Magnussen skidded along the barriers, causing the RB20’s wheels to come off and scattering debris across the circuit.
Nico Hulkenberg, closely trailing behind, attempted to steer clear of the collision by swiftly maneuvering through the opening to his left. Unfortunately, Perez’s car brushed against Hulkenberg’s, causing him to spin out. Consequently, all three vehicles involved were instantly wiped out from the race due to the crash.
All three drivers emerged from the crash unscathed and managed to exit their vehicles without assistance. Perez, who bore the majority of the impact, was promptly declared in good condition by Red Bull.
After the incident, the FIA spokesperson verified that a trackside photographer was transported to the Medical Centre for examination. However, it was determined that the photographer did not have any visible injuries. Subsequently, the photographer has been discharged from the Medical Centre.
After a technical infringement on their rear wings, both Haas cars were disqualified from qualifying, resulting in a frustrating start from the back of the grid. The incident further worsened an already disappointing weekend for the team.
Expressing frustration, Hulkenberg, who had a clear perspective of the incident, audibly sighed over the radio to confirm his well-being, remarking, “Oh, darn it, that was avoidable.”
Magnussen, with a tally of 10 penalty points, had been anxiously awaiting a potential race suspension if he was deemed responsible for causing the accident. However, the stewards have chosen not to probe into the crash.
Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari suffered damage from a collision with Oscar Piastri’s McLaren at the first corner, resulting in an apparent first-lap retirement. However, Sainz impressively managed to return to the pits during the red flag period. Consequently, he was granted permission to restart the race from the third position.
In the past, the two Alpines had a significant collision at Portier. Esteban Ocon’s car was forcefully lifted into the air while attempting to overtake Pierre Gasly. Gasly expressed his displeasure over the incident, venting on the team radio about Ocon’s actions. Given the extensive impact, it is expected that numerous repairs will be promptly undertaken during the red flag period.
At 15:44 local time, the race recommenced with a standing start, following the original grid order, excluding the cars that were too damaged to continue. Charles Leclerc maintained his position in the lead after the restart.
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