BREAKING NEWS:Opening Lap Crash Forces Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez to Retire E…read more
F1 Monaco Grand Prix: Opening Lap Crash Forces Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez to Retire E…read more
The 2024 Monaco Grand Prix saw chaos unfold right from the start, as Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez was involved in a major crash on the first lap alongside Haas drivers Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg. The collision occurred as the cars raced uphill from Ste. Devote to Beau Rivage, with Magnussen attempting a risky overtake in tight space, leading to contact that sent Pérez’s car hard into the barriers.
The crash caused severe damage to Pérez’s RB20, scattering debris across the track and taking out Hülkenberg as well. All three drivers were unharmed, but the race was red-flagged and delayed for nearly 40 minutes while marshals cleaned up the debris and repaired the barriers.
Pérez criticized Magnussen for what he called “dangerous driving,” while Magnussen defended his move, claiming he had enough room. The stewards labeled the crash a racing incident and chose not to issue penalties.
The incident resulted in a costly early retirement for Pérez and an estimated damage bill of up to £3 million for Red Bull. After the restart, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc led the race to victory in front of his home crowd, followed by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz.
