Major crash at Monaco GP: Pérez's car badly damaged, Haas cars retire

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

Early red Flag at Monaco Grand Prix after major crash involving Sergio Pérez and both Haas drivers.

MONTE CARLO, Monaco -- The Monaco Grand Prix witnessed a dramatic start as a collision involving Sergio Pérez and both Haas drivers forced the race to be suspended on the very first lap.

The incident occurred on the hill ascending from Turn 1 when Haas driver Kevin Magnussen collided with Pérez as the corner veered to the right. Magnussen, positioned inside Perez, found the space rapidly closing up.

This contact launched Perez into a heavy impact against the wall. On rejoining the track, Perez's car inadvertently struck Magnussen's teammate, Nico Hülkenberg. The resulting chaos saw Perez’s car significantly damaged and both Haas vehicles unable to proceed.

Fortunately, all three drivers emerged unscathed from the incident.

Race stewards reviewed the crash but confirmed shortly before the restart there would be no further investigation, a decision likely to stir controversy given Magnussen's precarious position of being just two penalty points away from a one-race ban.

Adding to the mayhem of the opening lap, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz veered off track after sustaining a front-left puncture during the charge up the hill. Compounding the early chaos, Alpine teammates Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon collided as they entered the tunnel section.

Following the red flag, the race resumed from a standing grid, mirroring the original start. Despite the off-track excursion and a fall through the order, Sainz was able to restart from the third position due to the precise timing of the red flag.

The revised grid promised an adrenaline-fueled continuation of what had already been a tumultuous beginning to the Monaco Grand Prix.

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