A dramatic incident unfolded during a Formula 4 race at Italy’s Imola circuit, resulting in a massive crash involving 15 drivers at the start line. The chaos erupted when one car failed to move as the race commenced, causing a chain reaction of collisions within just 17 seconds of the race beginning.
Footage captured the pandemonium as drivers navigated around the stationary car, leading to multiple collisions and a significant crash towards the rear of the 39-car grid. Debris littered the start line, prompting officials to swiftly wave yellow and then red flags to halt the race for safety reasons.
Fortunately, all drivers involved in the crash emerged unharmed. Initially suspended, the race was later abandoned due to noise restrictions at the venue. The rescheduling of the event remains uncertain.
Questions arose from motorsport enthusiasts regarding the high number of cars on the grid compared to a standard Formula 1 race. Some fans expressed concerns over the safety implications of having 39 cars participate in the event.
Despite the chaos, the earlier Formula 4 race saw Gabriel Gomez clinch victory by a narrow margin of 0.616 seconds over competitor Salim Hanna Hernandez in the promotion’s debut at Imola.