Horrifying 12-car pile-up brings Monaco GP to a standstill after crash on first bend

A shocking on the streets of The chaos unfolded when Alex Dunne and Victor Martins clashed at Turn 1, both vying for an early advantage.

Dunne was off from pole, but it was Martin who surged ahead down the first straight. Trouble struck at the first bend when Dunne’s front end collided with the side of Martin's car, propelling both into a spin that ended in the barriers.

The ensuing mayhem saw drivers collide in a desperate bid to dodge the unfolding disaster, with some vehicles ending up mounted on each other, posing a severe risk to driver safety. In total, twelve cars were embroiled in the wreckage, prompting the race to be suspended as red flags were waved. Incredibly, despite the carnage, all drivers emerged unscathed and reconvened with their respective teams.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

Martins was incensed by the crash and pointed the finger squarely at Dunne. Broadcasters captured the 23-year-old seething to his pit crew: "Who does he think he is,

This comment from young French driver Martins appeared to mock and star Verstappen’s notoriously assertive racing style.

Chaos in Monaco didn't end there, as the feature race itself was not completed thanks to red flags coming out later in the race once again, as the tech pro barrier needed to be repaired.

Jak Crawford was in the lead when a safety car came out near the race's end, and when red flags were subsequently shown so close to the finish, thanks to him being in front, the American was handed the victory, and the contest concluded early.

Of the 22 drivers that took part in the tumultuous race, seven were taken out early when Dunne and Martins collided just after lights out.

Alongside the two who qualified in P1 and P2, Richard Verschoor, Gabriele Mini, Ritomo Miyata, Pepe Marti, and Max Esterson all saw their day end prematurely in Monaco.

Eventual winner Crawford, who benefited from a chaotic renewal around the tricky streets of Monte Carlo, spoke before the race and hoped his team could have a stellar weekend.

"I think so definitely," said Crawford about his race chances after a stellar sprint showing. "Unfortunately, just had some small mistakes. Qualifying was not our fault. And then from there, with everything we were given, we did a good job.

"We did a good job on Saturday in the Sprint to maximise the result. And then today [qualifying], I do feel we left a bit on the table. But we’re going in the right direction, and we always seem to be competitive.

"Hopefully, we can have a good weekend around Monaco, it's always a bit tricky sometimes. But I see no reason why we can’t have a good weekend."

The winning driver now walks away with 25 points, with Invicta Racing's Leonardo Fornaroli taking 18 points in second, and Sebastian Montoya rounding off the podium.