Formula E red-flagged after violent multi-car crash in Rome
The Rome E-Prix has been red-flagged after a number of drivers were involved in a serious crash at the fastest point of the circuit.
Edoardo Mortara collides with Sam Bird during the Rome E-Prix. (Stan Sport)
Jaguar TCS Racing driver Sam Bird lost control at the exit of turn six, over the same bump that claimed McLaren’s Jake Hughes during qualifying.
The following pack was unsighted as they approached the wreckage, with a number of drivers clipping Bird’s car before he was t-boned by Edoardo Mortara.
The race was immediately stopped, with the medical car and extrication crews flooding the track.
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Multiple drivers are out of the @Hankook_Sport #RomeEPrix following this nasty accident. pic.twitter.com/VskBzDYafMJuly 15, 2023
Sébastien Buemi made heavy contact with the rear of Bird’s car, with António Félix da Costa ploughing underneath his Envision Racing car.
Flames were seen to burst from the rear of Buemi’s car as he was pushed along the barriers.
Edoardo Mortaro then collected Bird in a head-on collision, seen live from the onboard camera on the Brit’s car.
Lucas Di Grassi and Robin Frijns were also involved in secondary incidents.
Sébastien Buemi and António Félix da Costa after the crash. (Stan Sport)
All drivers were okay, with Sam Bird taken to the medical centre for additional checks, according to FIA Formula E commentators Saunders CB and Oliver Askew.
Jaguar teammates Sam Bird and Mitch Evans were leading the race after a brief safety car period.
Bird had dropped in the order after taking the attack mode activation zone for the first time.
Drivers took to pit lane during the red flag, with the option to take repairs but drop to the rear of the field.
Sacha Fenestraz will lead MItch Evans and René Rast at the restart, the crash occurring on lap nine of the 25-lap race.
The race will restart with a standing start from the grid.
Pit-lane commentator Saunders CB said in commentary “that is the biggest crash I have seen in my time in Formula E.”
Envision Racing team principal Sylvain Filippi said that teams will not be able to recover wrecked cars for the second Rome E-Prix on Sunday, instead needing to build new cars overnight.
