The Monaco Grand Prix staged today in Monte-Carlo seemed to have to offer the usual train and a small amount of emotions. And so it was from lap 4 onwards, until number 78, or the checkered flag. Yet after just one bend everyone held their breath after seeing Sergio Perez’s Red Bull RB20 completely destroyed on the climb that connects Sainte Devote to Casino.
The Mexican, who started from the back after a terrible qualifying, was rammed by an unwary Kevin Magnussen. The two collided with the right rear wheel (Perez) and the left front wheel (Magnussen), triggering a terrible collision in which, moreover, the innocent Nico Hulkenberg also paid the price.
The RB20, careened from one guard rail to another, came out devastated. For Perez it was the end of the race after a few hundred meters and, fortunately, he did not suffer any physical damage despite the car being practically destroyed, except for the survival cell which did its job well.
At the end of the race, Helmut Marko certainly did not refrain from commenting on what happened. First of all, Kevin Magnussen is at risk of disqualification for a GP having just 2 points on his license. The mistake made at the start could have actually cost him the next World Championship event, but the race stewards deemed it unnecessary to investigate the manoeuvre, causing a lot of surprise in the Paddock.
“It was another accident in which Magnussen was involved. You have to watch the replays carefully. Thank God it ended well, but it was a very dangerous and critical situation.”
Stewards remove Sergio Perez’s car, Red Bull Racing RB20, from circuit after first lap crash
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
“Am I surprised that Magnussen wasn’t penalized? I’m actually surprised by how quickly the guys managed to put that incident behind them.”
Marko, however, is not only enraged by the Haas driver’s maneuver. What makes him most angry is the economic calculation of the damages reported by the RB20 number 11, which the Red Bull consultant estimated to be between 2 and 3 million euros. And in the period of Budget Cap, this is anything but a good omen.
“I don’t think the accident needs to be investigated again, because these are decisions that can be strongly influenced. But first of all it was very dangerous and, second of all, the damage to the RB20 is 2 or 3 million. And this is a big handicap for us with the budget cap rule.”
To conclude, the former Austrian driver reiterated how Monte-Carlo presents a unique atmosphere, but a track where it is impossible to overtake. This is why he preferred to push the organizers to think about changes to the track, so as to make the races less tactical and predictable.
“For the rest I think there is a great atmosphere here, but the race is actually very boring. It’s all a question of tactics. Maybe the organizers should think of something, for example adapting the track in some parts to allow for some overtaking “.
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