WATCH: Kevin Magnussen and Alex Albon crash out at Brazilian GP minutes after Charles Leclerc’s formation lap crash

Charles Leclerc has never been on the Brazilian GP podium.

WATCH: Kevin Magnussen and Alex Albon crash out at Brazilian GP minutes after Charles Leclerc’s formation lap crash

Charles Leclerc in the barriers (Left) and Alex Albon tangling with Kevin Magnussen (Right) [Credits: X]

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In a surprising turn of events, the Brazilian GP at the Interlago Circuit turned into a chaotic crash fest, ultimately resulting in a red flag and a temporary halt in the race. Multiple incidents and dramatic moments unfolded, leaving fans and teams in shock. A race that had 20 drivers gunning for a victory saw 5 of the drivers bow out of the race in just two turns’ distance. 

The first incident of the day came during the formation lap when Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc faced a hydraulic issue. Just as the race was about to begin, disaster struck. Leclerc lost control of his Ferrari, smashing into the barrier and causing significant damage to his car. He expressed his sorrow on the radio, saying, “I lost the hydraulics; why am I so unlucky.” With no chance of starting alongside pole-sitter Max Verstappen, Leclerc’s day ended before it even began.

As the race finally got underway, the chaos continued to unfold. A massive crash occurred at the back of the pack, triggering a safety car deployment. Kevin Magnussen and Alex Albon were both involved in the collision into the turn one. Albon first bumped into Magnussen’s teammate, Nico Hulkenberg that catapulted into the sidepod of Magnussen. 

Both cars slid into the turn one run-off with tires flying away. Just as the excitement peaked, a red flag was raised, and the entire field had to navigate through the pit lane to avoid the considerable debris left at turn 1. Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris capitalized on the chaos, climbing to third and second places. 

Oscar Piastri and Daniel Ricciardo to resume the race from the pit lane

Following the unfortunate collision, debris struck Daniel Ricciardo‘s rear wing, necessitating his withdrawal into the garage. Although AlphaTauri’s dedicated team made commendable efforts to expedite repairs in time for the race’s recommencement, it was unmistakably apparent that his competitive prospects had been substantially compromised. 

Alphatauri and McLaren mechanics working on Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri's cars
Alphatauri and McLaren mechanics working on Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri’s cars (Credits: X)

A parallel setback befell McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, whose rear wing succumbed to the debris, momentarily shattering McLaren’s aspirations. The prospect of being forced out of the race loomed large for Piastri. The skilled mechanics from McLaren also embarked on the arduous task of mending his damaged car, but their success within the tight timeframe remained uncertain. Ricciardo and Piastri have now reentered the race, albeit commencing from the tail end of the grid.

The Brazilian Grand Prix on this fateful day was marked by unfortunate incidents, leaving fans and teams on the edge of their seats. The race turned into a crash fest, testing the resilience of drivers and teams. With the red flag out, the future of the race remains uncertain as the teams prepare to assess the damage and make necessary repairs. 

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