Motorsport

A PHOTOGRAPHER was rushed to hospital after being hit by flying debris following the horror crash at the Monaco Grand Prix.During Sunday’s Formula One race in Monte Carlo, three cars were involved in a shocking first-lap pile up.Sergio Perez was involved in a multi-car pile up on lap one of the Monaco Grand PrixCredit: GettyPerez’s car was left as a wreck following the crashCredit: RexThe safety barriers showed the violence of the crashCredit: GettyDebris had been flung over the top of the barriers as a resultCredit: AlamyA f1 photographer was seen laying on the floor with debris littered around themCredit: FacebookLook how everyone near the fence gets hit by debris from the crash between Checo and Magnussen. That was super dangerous and I’m just glad no one got hurt. IG: alexandraborchio#MonacoGP pic.twitter.com/WcrurBmdvI— Marie🌸LET’S GO CHECO! (@ma_fe79) May 26, 2024

Red Bull driver Sergio Perez was tagged by Haas driver Kevin Magnussen on the inside of the track when heading up the Beau Rivage on the way to turn two.The shocking 160mph crash saw Perez’s rear right wheel clipped by Magnussen before he violently spun to the right and into the wall before the momentum took him further up the track.Fellow Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg was then caught up in the madness as Perez’s car caught him and sent him spinning around.The track was left covered in debris in the aftermath, while Perez’s car was left without any of it’s wheels and only the monocoque left intact.READ MORE IN F1It’s magnitude was so potent that debris spilled over the top of the safety barriers, leading to a lengthy delay as the barriers were repaired.The drivers miraculously escaped with no injuries, but one F1 photographer was caught by debris.Why do F1 cars come apart so dramatically in a crash?F1 safety has come a long way in it’s 74 year history.
Indeed, a massive tell of this is the safety features of the cars in the modern era.
One feature of this is the way the cars break apart in a high-speed crash much like crumple zones seen in road cars.
F1 cars now break apart during severe collisions as a means of dissipating the kinetic energy away from the driver taken during the incident.
The cars themselves are built around a monocoque – also known as a “survival cell” – with 2018 seeing the introduction of the halo prominently on top around the drivers head to boost this further.
This safety cell is made from 6millimetre of exceedingly strong carbon fibre composite with a layer of kevlar, which is penetration resistant and can absorb a huge amount of energy in a crash.
Meanwhile, the halo was a large reason as to why Romain Grosjean survived his horror crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2020.

A picture after the crash showed one person in a hunch on the floor by the track with debris littered around them. One Italian photographer was taken to hospital over fears of a possible injury.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSFortunately, they were later released with the FIA confirming the photographer had not suffered any “open wounds”.The photographer then returned to the circuit and was able to resume his duties.Inside Conor Murray’s VIP experience at glamorous Monaco F1 Grand Prix alongside fellow Ireland legendStewards deemed there to be no investigation necessary for the crash, judging it to be a racing incident which ensured no driver received a punishment for their involvement.Charles Leclerc eventually took first place in his home race, ahead of Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz.However, the race was slammed for being a procession, with even Max Verstappen, who came sixth, joking that he has “wished he’d brought his pillow”.Footage showed how debris flung over the barrier and came down on trackside photographersCredit: Instagram / @alexandraborchioOne photographer was taken to hospital following the incident over fear of injuryCredit: Instagram / @alexandraborchioThe FIA later confirmed they were okayCredit: Instagram / @alexandraborchio🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More

CHARLES LECLERC ended his Monaco jinx with a victory in his home race.But in truth this was a massively dull race with ZERO overtaking in the top 10, and the cars placed from first to 10th finished in exactly the same order they started.Charles Leclerc won the Monaco Grand Prix on SundayCredit: ReutersA dull race saw zero overtaking in the top 10Credit: GettyPerhaps the biggest shock was seeing Ferrari not stuff it up for once, as Monte-Carlo born Leclerc took the chequered flag.The procession through the streets would not dampen his mood or that of his Italian team.But it again raises the question whether this race should remain on the F1 calendar at all.The cars are too big, the circuit is too narrow.READ MORE IN F1And at the halfway point while leading Leclerc was told to “slow down a bit” by his team as it became a game of driving so slowly to save tyre life.It is simply incredible that a premier racing class should feature such instructions but here we are.At one point, Max Verstappen, who started and finished in sixth, radioed his team and said: “F*** me! This is really boring, I should have bought my pillow.”The on track “action” boiled down to a first lap crash that saw the race stopped when Kevin Magnussen and Sergio Perez made contact at 150mph.Most read in MotorsportBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSAs the two cars tangled at speed the wreckage also collected Nico Hulkenberg to cause a three-car pile up.The incident was not initially caught by the TV director as pictures showed Carlos Sainz locking up from third place, temporarily promoting Lando Norris to third.Monaco Grand Prix narrowly avoids catastrophe after devastating F2 near miss leaves Oliver Bearman stunnedThe most dramatic incident came in a first-lap crashCredit: Sky SportsSergio Perez’s car was a complete wreckCredit: GettyThe narrow course made it difficult for overtakingCredit: GettyHowever, the stewards threw the stop flag as soon as they became aware of the wreckage caused by Perez’s smash.Incredibly, and somewhat perplexingly, there was no further action from the stewards, who deemed the first lap smash a racing incident.There was also contact between the two Alpine drivers at turn eight as they banged wheels sending Esteban Ocon into the air.”What did he do? Why did he try to attack me! Oh my gosh,” said Gasly over the radio. “The whole car is damaged now!”PSG star Kylian Mbappe waved the chequered flagCredit: GettyLeclerc was delighted as he sealed victoryCredit: GettyFerrari are hoping to challenge for the title this termCredit: GettyOcon retired from the race and was subsequently hit with a five-place penalty for the next race in Canada.He later apologised on social media, saying: “Today’s incident was my fault, the gap was too small in the end and I apologise to the team on this.”Sainz was given third on the grid for the restart, as Norris bumped back down to fourth.In the following one hour and 44 minutes nothing happened for the drivers driving at reduced capacity of their brilliant machines.READ MORE SUN STORIESLeclerc took the win as Oscar Piastri finished second while Sainz was third.Norris was in fourth ahead of George Russell and Verstappen while Lewis Hamilton was seventh.🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More

SERGIO PEREZ saw his Formula One car get torn to bits in a horrific first-lap crash at the Monaco Grand Prix.The Red Bull driver was tagged by Haas driver Kevin Magnussen on the inside of the track when heading up the Beau Rivage on the way to turn two.Sergio Perez was involved in a horror crash at the Monaco GPCredit: Sky Sports F1Perez’s car went spinning up the track during the crashCredit: GettyHis car was torn into bits as he hit the wall and two other carsCredit: Sky Sports F1The three cars were all forced to retire from the sessionCredit: Sky Sports F1Perez’s car break into bits to soak up the momentum as part of the car’s safety featuresCredit: GettyA Ferrari mechanic had this reaction to the crashThankfully, Perez got out of his car safely following the horror collisionCredit: GettyThe shocking crash saw Perez’s rear right wheel clipped by Magnussen before he violently spun to the right and into the wall before the momentum took him further up the track.Fellow Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg was then caught up in the madness as Perez’s car caught him and forced him to spin around.Stewards then initially waved for a yellow flag before quickly upgrading it to a red flag and stopping the session.The track was left covered in debris from the crash, while Perez’s car was left without any of it’s wheels with only the monocoque left intact.READ MORE IN F1It’s magnitude was so potent that debris even spilled over the top of the safety barriers.The stewards declared there was no investigation necessary for the crash, ensuring Magnussen did not add to his 10 penalty points.The crash left the three drivers out of the race, while madness further up the order also saw Ferrari ace Carlos Sainz go off track following a lock up.However, he was fortunate the session was red flagged as he profited from the crash allowing him to stay in P3 after he dropped down the order. Most read in MotorsportWhy do F1 cars come apart so dramatically in a crash?F1 safety has come a long way in it’s 74 year history.

Indeed, a massive tell of this is the safety features of the cars in the modern era.
One feature of this is the way the cars break apart in a high-speed crash much like crumple zones seen in road cars.
F1 cars now break apart during severe collisions as a means of dissipating the kinetic energy away from the driver taken during the incident.
The cars themselves are built around a monocoque – also known as a “survival cell” – with 2018 seeing the introduction of the halo prominently on top around the drivers head to boost this further.
This safety cell is made from 6millimetre of exceedingly strong carbon fibre composite with a layer of kevlar, which is penetration resistant and can absorb a huge amount of energy in a crash.
Meanwhile, the halo was a large reason as to why Romain Grosjean survived his horror crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2020.

The Monaco madness was also present at Alpine as Esteban Ocon was sent flying into the air after being rear-ended by team-mate Pierre Gasly at turn eight following an overtake.It was then announced that the race would restart at 2:44pm UK time in the form of a standing start.Cost of an F1 carBefore the restart Ocon was then spotted in his jeans and an Alpine T-shirt, indicating he was the fourth driver to retire from the race.Speaking to Sky Sports after the crash, Magnussen said: “I think it’s something they [the stewards] will look at. “It’s a big crash, from my point of view I was there and I got squeezed to the wall.”F1 rules state that under red flags drivers are allowed to switch tyres, with Lewis Hamilton among those to swap to the faster medium tyre compound after initially starting on the hard tyre.DRAMA ON THE FIRST LAP IN MONACO! Sainz picks up damage and a MASSIVE crash between Perez and both Haas’ brings out the red flag! 🟥 pic.twitter.com/LLKP4byL5I— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) May 26, 2024

The debris from the crash spilled to the side of the trackCredit: GettyRace marshalls managed to get the track cleared quicklyCredit: AFPMeanwhile, Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz suffered a lock up near the front of the packCredit: GettyThe barriers were badly damaged by the crashCredit: GettyOcon also received a 10-second time penalty for his part in his crash, which will be applied in the form of a five-place grid penalty at the next race.Monaco avoided a potential disaster of a crash at the circuit yesterday thanks to the quick reactions of Isack Hadjar.The 19-year-old had lightning quick reactions in the Monaco tunnel to dodge a crash with Ritomo Miyata, leaving teen star Ollie Bearman stunned.🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More