Monaco GP Meltdown: Inside Perez, Magnussen, and Hulkenberg's Start-Line Catastrophe

The 2024 Monaco Grand Prix was off to a shaky start, courtesy of a dramatic collision involving Sergio Perez, Kevin Magnussen, and Nico Hulkenberg. It wasn't the golden start anyone anticipated, especially the trio that found themselves sidelined far too early in the race.

Out of Position and Into Chaos

Sergio Perez kicked off the race weekend on a tough note, starting out of position after a surprising Q1 exit. While typically a strong contender, Perez found himself in an undesirable spot, and things only escalated from there. Meanwhile, both Magnussen and Hulkenberg had their own woes, lining up at the back of the grid after being disqualified over a rear wing breach.

As the drivers accelerated towards Sainte Devote, Magnussen began to show aggression by quickly overtaking his Haas teammate Hulkenberg. However, his ambition got the better of him as he attempted to overtake Perez up Beau Rivage. The lines of their cars converged disastrously, leading to Magnussen tagging Perez's rear, sending them both careening into barriers.

Street Racing Meets Narrow Lanes

Maneuvering through Monaco's narrow streets is always a challenge, and Hulkenberg became an innocent bystander in the ensuing chaos. Despite his best efforts to avoid the coming storm, there was nowhere to go. Magnussen and Perez’s cars blocked the path, leading to significant damage for all three drivers.

Perez’s Perspective

“I lost a position to one of the [Kick Saubers],” Perez shared as he recounted the incident. “It's Lap 1, and being out of position means you're at a huge disadvantage. On my onboard, there's no point where you see Kevin. I was surprised he kept it flat because it was completely unnecessary. My car is completely destroyed.”

Magnussen’s Take

On his part, Magnussen suggested it was a matter of unfortunate timing and lack of space. “I think I was alongside Perez’s rear at the exit of Turn 1. There's this moment where the wall comes back towards the track, and I had nowhere to go. I can't disappear out of nowhere. We made contact, and the crash happened. It's frustrating not only because of the race itself but because of the cost of spare parts and the workload for the team,” Magnussen lamented.

Hulkenberg’s View

Bearing the brunt of the crash without being directly involved, Hulkenberg was visibly disappointed. “To be out after 500 meters is far from ideal, and both Haas cars being out just compounds the disappointment,” he said. “It's narrow here and going up to Turn 3 was too tight. It seemed like a racing incident, maybe a bit optimistic from Kevin's side, but Checo could've also seen him and left room. It's an unfortunate outcome.”

No Penalties but Plenty of Disappointment

The stewards reviewed the incident but refrained from handing out penalties, despite the massive impact it had on the race. Perez, Magnussen, and Hulkenberg's catastrophes were noted, yet no further actions were taken. Meanwhile, Esteban Ocon incurred a penalty for a separate clash with his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly.

So, while the high-octane streets of Monaco promise thrill and excitement, they also serve up heartbreaking disappointments. For Perez, Magnussen, and Hulkenberg, the 2024 Monaco GP will be remembered as a race that ended almost as soon as it began.