What should have been a thrilling day of racing in Monaco ended in disaster, as a massive 12-car crash brought the Formula 2 feature race to an early and dramatic stop.
The crash happened just seconds after the race began. As the field roared towards the first corner, pole-sitter Alex Dunne and French driver Victor Martins collided while fighting for the lead. Both spun out and slammed into the barriers, leaving debris scattered across the track.
Behind them, chaos unfolded. Drivers had no time or space to react. One by one, cars crashed into the wreckage, some even climbing over others. In total, twelve vehicles were involved.
Drivers Walk Away, But Race Doesn’t Go On
Despite the scale of the crash, all drivers were able to walk away without serious injury. Medical teams were quick to respond, and no hospital visits were necessary. However, race officials had no choice but to show the red flag, suspending the race while the track was cleared.
After a lengthy delay, the race resumed briefly, but was then called off completely due to damage to a safety barrier. With no time left to repair it, organisers confirmed the race would not continue.
Crawford Takes the Win, But Questions Remain
American driver Jak Crawford was leading at the time of the second red flag and was declared the winner, as per official regulations. He was followed by Leonardo Fornaroli of Italy in second, and Sebastian Montoya, son of former Formula 1 star Juan Pablo Montoya, in third.
Although it goes down as a win for Crawford, the way the race ended has left many in the paddock disappointed. What was expected to be a showpiece event instead raised serious concerns about safety.
“Who Does He Think He Is?” – Tempers Flare After Crash
Following the incident, emotions ran high. Television footage showed an angry Victor Martins blaming Alex Dunne for the crash. In frustration, he was overheard saying,
“Who does he think he is, Max Verstappen?”
It was a clear jab at Dunne’s aggressive move at the start, and the remark quickly spread across social media.
Seven Drivers Out, Dozens of Questions Ahead
Seven of the 22 drivers were taken out of the race in the crash, including:
- Alex Dunne
- Victor Martins
- Richard Verschoor
- Gabriele Minì
- Ritomo Miyata
- Pepe Martí
- Max Esterson
The rest were either delayed or narrowly escaped the pile-up.
Crawford picked up the full 25 points for the win, but even he admitted the circumstances were far from ideal. “Monaco is always unpredictable. We did the best we could with the conditions and opportunities we had,” he said after the race.
Is Monaco Still Safe for Modern Racing?
This crash has once again sparked debate about whether Monaco’s famous street circuit is suitable for today’s high-speed cars. The track is narrow, the barriers are close, and there’s very little room for error. While the circuit is iconic and loved by fans, some are now asking whether updates or changes are needed to prevent similar incidents in future.
So far, race organisers have not commented on whether any changes will be made ahead of next year’s race. But after a day like this, the discussion is unlikely to go away.
