Sergio Pérez has called the first lap crash in Monaco between Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg a “major accident” and questioned the stewards’ decision not to investigate.
The Red Bull driver was hitting the back of his car as he was climbing the hill after Sant Devoto when Magnussen hit him, sending Pérez into the barriers, making contact with the second Haas car, Nico Hulkenberg, in the process, and all three drivers were out of contention.
Sergio Perez ‘very disappointed’ that contact with Kevin Magnussen wasn’t investigated
Perez suffered significant damage to his RB20 but was able to walk back to the garage after the crash, and Red Bull confirmed that Perez did not need to go to the medical centre for examination as a result of the collision.
But what annoyed him was the fact that FIA officials, who are usually more lenient in cases of accidents that happen on the first lap, chose not to investigate this one.
But despite this, Perez noted that his car was “totally destroyed” and believed it was a “major accident.”
“I lost my position to one of the Alfas. [Sauber, sic]”Of course it’s the first lap so it’s important that if you’re not in the right position you automatically lose,” he told F1 TV after retiring.
“So I was trying to come out of the corner and basically, looking in my car, there’s no point where I can see Kevin.
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“I was just pretty surprised he kept it flat at that point because it was totally unnecessary and we were doing a lot of damage.
“A very dangerous incident occurred and I am extremely disappointed that there was no investigation as it was a major incident.
“My car was completely destroyed and badly damaged.
“It’s very, very frustrating but I have faith in the team. It hasn’t been an easy weekend but we will come back very strong.”
Perez failed to finish the race and dropped to fifth in the drivers’ championship, while Charles Leclerc took an emotional first win at his home race, but the Red Bull driver also finished behind Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz.
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