The Grand Prix of Tuscany got off to a bizarre start on Sunday morning when a few races’ worth of crashes took place within the opening six laps.
By the eighth lap, nearly a third of the drivers in the race had retired due to wrecks — Verstappen and Gasly were done almost right away, with Latifi, Magnussen, Giovinazzi and Sainz all joining them.
The first wreck took place in an opening corner. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen struggled with power coming out, but found himself in the middle of the pack into the corner. A clip that took place behind him, however, sent Pierre Gasly’s car flying into Vertstappen, and sent them both spinning into the gravel.
Momento do acidente na largada que tirou Verstappen e Gasly da prova.#F1 #TuscanGP #F1naGlobo pic.twitter.com/RrbKfv1ljR
— Velocidade Alta (@velocialta) September 13, 2020
The second wreck was even more bizarre. After the caution flag was out for the first wreck, the drivers were set to resume racing. But with the safety car gone and the pack approaching the start line, the drivers at the front of the pack — especially Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas — didn’t accelerate as quickly as those in the back. Bottas had steady speed but was continuing to warm up his tires … before accelerating as he crossed the line.
Multiple drivers at the back of the pack, however, saw the green light and slammed down on their accelerators … only to smash into the cars in front of them, who had not yet started going full bore.
Most of the drivers at the back of the pack went before those at the front, and it caused this massive wreck. Luckily all drivers involved are okay. #TuscanGP pic.twitter.com/2XeGw80c9O
— iGP Manager (@iGPManager) September 13, 2020
Before the race could even get going again, the red flag was out and all the drivers headed to pit row.
Not sure how much more can happen this race. We’ve had so much in the opening six laps.
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