Sergio Perez has accused Kevin Magnussen of ‘dangerous driving’ after their massive collision on the opening lap of the Monaco Grand Prix.
The Mexican, starting 16th, was tagged by the Haas of Magnussen heading uphill after the first corner. The Dane’s front left caught Perez’s rear right, sending the latter into the barriers in a huge 160mph crash.
Perez rebounded off the wall and into the other Haas of Nico Hulkenberg, as his Red Bull became a pinball before it finally came to rest on the circuit.
His car was written off with just one wheel left attached, though the strength of today’s cars was shown off, as he walked away without injury.
However, the Red Bull star was not happy that Magnussen didn’t receive any penalty, for what he felt was causing the crash.
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Sergio Perez has accused Kevin Magnussen of ‘dangerous driving’ after their Monaco crash
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Perez’s car was all but destroyed following a first lap crash at the Monaco Grand Prix which involved Magnussen and his Haas team-mate Nico Hulkenberg
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Only one wheel was left attached on Perez’s car following the crash with Kevin Magnussen
He said: ‘This was more dangerous driving, just to keep it flat out knowing that there was going to come contact at some point.
‘I think that was some dangerous driving. We need to ask for a reason why it’s not been investigated because without an investigation we don’t get a reason why it wasn’t a penalty. I’m really surprised.’
Magnussen, who is currently on 10 penalty points, two short of a race ban, felt Perez should have left him space.
Perez though responded: ‘You sometimes find yourself in a position and you have to take a very quick decision to say: “There’s only one way of it and it’s going to be contact, so I’d better back out.” But he will go for the contact.’
Magnussen’s team-mate Hulkenberg, who also retired following the collision, said that the crash was ‘unneccessary’.
In a mad start, the two Alpines also tangled, sending Esteban Ocon airborne on the entry to the tunnel. He landed safely but retired from the race under the red flag due to the damage his car suffered.
Ocon was handed a 10-second penalty, but he didn’t restart the race in any case.
Carlos Sainz, running third for Ferrari, stopped at Casino Square as he appeared to go in too deep, after contact with Oscar Piastri at the start.
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Debris from Perez’s car was sent across the circuit following the crash with Magnussen
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Race marshalls cleared the track after the race was red flagged after the opening lap crash
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The marshalls were forced to clear a significant amount of debris before racing could resume
Stewards confirmed Sainz would resume in third at the restart, with drivers having not progressed enough around the first lap to establish a new order.
The race resumed without Perez, Magnussen, Hulkenberg and Ocon following the crash.
Speaking on Sky Sports, former world champion Jenson Button suggested Perez and Magnussen should have given each other more room.
‘It’s surprising [Perez] knew [Magnussen] was there and didn’t move to the left a little bit more,’ Button said.
‘It was a horrible impact and because you’re going at such a high speed there you end up about 300 metres away from the incident.
‘It’s a real strange one. You’ve got to say both guys should have given each other more room.
‘Is it a racing incident? It kind of is because Checo knew Kevin was there and maybe should have given him a little bit more room, but if a car is coming to the right doing 150mph, I’d back out.’
