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The Tuscan Grand Prix at Mugello has been red-flagged after a massive crash at a safety car restart on the seventh lap.
As leader Valtteri Bottas – who had jumped pole-sitting Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton off the line at the original race start – controlled the pace coming up to the startline, Antonio Giovinazzi, Carlos Sainz Jr, Nicholas Latifi and Kevin Magnussen were involved in violent contact at the back of the pack.
All four cars sustained heavy damage but the drivers got out without any obvious significant injury.
The race had run entirely behind the safety car up to that point following multiple first-lap collisions.
Sainz had spun in front of much of the pack after a brush with Lance Stroll, and was clipped by Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari.
Further back Monza winner Pierre Gasly and Kimi Raikkonen tangled and collected Max Verstappen – who had plunged down the order with a sudden power loss – and Romain Grosjean.
Gasly and Verstappen retired as a result, while Raikkonen and Vettel both had to pit for repairs.
“Already on the formation lap the engine stalled and yeah, probably a bit same problem as in Monza actually I guess, because it felt a bit similar,” Verstappen told Sky.
“So, I had a good launch. I went around Lewis and then didn’t accelerate, so yeah, lost a lot of speed.”
Asked about the subsequent collision, he said: “I mean, that doesn’t matter. That’s what happens when you get in a situation like that. I would’ve probably retired anyway – it is what it is.”
The race will restart with Bottas first on the grid ahead of Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Alex Albon and Stroll.
In addition to those involved in the crashes, Renault driver Esteban Ocon has been ruled out of the race due to overheating rear brakes – meaning only 13 cars will take the restart.
