When a loose drain cover destroyed an F1 car during the 2010 Monaco GP
Loose drain covers have been a huge headache in street circuits.
Follow Us
2010 Monaco Grand Prix, Image via Reddit
The 2010 Monaco Grand Prix was the sixth out of the nineteen rounds in the Formula One World Championship. The race on the street circuit was quite dramatic, thanks to a loose drain cover in turn two. It was already a narrow course, and a few changes were made before the race, like raising the kerbs. While precautions were taken for the safety of the drivers, a loose drain cover created havoc.
Unfortunately, the then-Williams driver, Rubens Barrichello, went over a loose drain cover at the Beau Rivage. He suffered a heavy crash. His car went wild and spun, smacking into the barrier. The Brazilian’s car stopped in the middle of the track, mostly destroyed. After this contact, he threw his steering wheel and got out of the car.
Karun Chandhok, the HRT Formula One team driver, ran over Barrichello’s steering wheel. Later on, it was reported by a marshal that the manhole cover in Beau Rivage was not secure. It was wobbly. The Formula One car going at a high speed plucked it from its place of installation, thereby causing a crash. Because of this loose drain cover, Barrichello had a suspension failure.
Related : WATCH: Harry Styles follows Daniel Ricciardo’s footsteps by doing a shoey
Reubens Barrichello had a good run before a loose drain cover ruined it
The loose drain covers can greatly impact a driver’s life. The officials usually check it before the race. They make sure to fix all the loose ones by strengthening them, so they do not come off while the drivers are racing. However, in some cases, like the 2010 Monaco Grand Prix, a driver might come in contact with one and dislodge it if it is not secured tightly.
The safety car was deployed for the second time that day, and Mark Webber, the Red Bull driver, managed to get a lead despite the mess. It was going all right apart from the retirements until Jarno Trulli ended up in Chandhok’s car. It was not a good day for Karun Chandhok, that’s for sure, at first, he collected the steering wheel due to Barrichello’s crash and then a collision with the Lotus driver, Trulli.
Though Trulli’s wheels landed on Chandok’s car, it missed his head, thankfully. The two drivers had to retire from the race. Webber once again got lucky and was not a part of this incident. He went on to win the race and got a lead in the championship. The second and third places were Sebastian Vettel for Red Bull and Robert Kubica for Renault.
In case you missed it:
- Esteban Ocon not sure if ‘Fernando Alonso effect’ to blame for the hubbub around Aston Martin
- Esteban Ocon thinks Alpine’s 2023 car makes it predecessor look ‘like a toy’
Stay Updated!
Justin P Joy
(4859 Articles Published)