F1 Safety Car crashes at Monza in ‘high-speed’ Italian GP incident

There was early drama at Monza after the Safety Car crashed heavily at Parabolica on the eve of the Italian Grand Prix.

Formula 1 has descended on Monza for the Italian Grand Prix – Round 16 of the F1 2024 campaign – but the race weekend had not even gotten underway by the time the first incident arrived, with a major shunt for the Safety Car thankfully causing no injuries.

F1 Safety Car crashes at Monza ahead of Italian GP

The experienced Bernd Mayländer was at the wheel of the Aston Martin Safety Car, but would find the tyre barriers at the iconic Parabolica turn, in what was described as a ‘high-speed’ crash.

Not something you see every day – the Safety Car just crashed at Parabolica during the high speed track test. Everyone out of the car and OK, but Maylander went spinning off at high speed #F1 #ItalianGP https://t.co/EiRERhJm7M

— Chris Medland (@ChrisMedlandF1) August 29, 2024

Fortunately, nobody was injured in the incident as recovery vehicles went about removing the stricken Safety Car from the barriers.

The FIA would confirm that Aston Martin are investigating the cause of the crash, while assuring that on-track action will not be disrupted with a second Safety Car on the scene and available at Monza.

In a statement issued to media including PlanetF1.com, the FIA said: “There was an on-track incident with the FIA Safety Car today at Monza.

“Aston Martin is investigating the cause but can confirm both driver and passenger are fine.

“There is an additional Safety Car at the circuit and it will not impact the weekend’s event.”

More key talking points from Monza

? Revealed: The McLaren standout that could set them apart at the Italian Grand Prix

? Alex Albon’s ‘behind closed doors’ comment after brutal Logan Sargeant axing

McLaren go into the Italian Grand Prix looking to continue their momentum after a dominant Lando Norris display at Zandvoort, which saw him win the Dutch Grand Prix by just over 23 seconds from home hero Max Verstappen.

And McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown teased “fun stuff” coming for the team at Monza, with a major set-up change on the horizon for this iconic circuit.

Asked by Sky F1 if he was confident that McLaren will have the fastest car at every circuit, Brown replied: “I think that’s hard to tell.

“I think we clearly have a very fast car. We’ve got some more fun stuff coming for Monza because, obviously, it’s a different type of track.

“Here [Zandvoort] is quite a bit of high downforce, it’s very low downforce [at Monza].

“So I think we’ll be ready for Monza, but let’s see. The Red Bull was very fast in quick stuff, so I think they’ll be quick there.”

McLaren has reduced Red Bull’s Constructors’ Championship lead to 30 points, while Norris has cut Verstappen’s buffer at the top of the Drivers’ Championship to 70 points.

Read next: Renault F1 staff on strike over Alpine engine decision with Italian GP protest planned