Round 13 of the 2022/23 Formula E season has been red-flagged in Rome, following a terrifying high-speed multi-car crash.
The first race of the weekend at the Rome E-Prix was red-flagged on the ninth lap, following a huge crash which involved six drivers. Fourth-placed Sam Bird lost the rear of his Jaguar I-TYPE 6 on the exit of Turn 6, after going over a bump.
Bird’s car spun into the wall before rolling into the middle of the circuit, at one of the fastest points on the Circuito Cittadino dell’EUR. His car was immediately ploughed into by Sébastian Buemi and Edoardo Mortara, with António Félix da Costa, Robin Frijns and Lucas di Grassi having followed.
All six are, thankfully, OK; however, they will all not feature in the race when it resumes. Jean-Éric Vergne and Stoffel Vandoorne also clipped the wall whilst trying to avoid one of the biggest crashes in the history of Formula E, leaving DS Penske with a significant repair job.
With Jake Hughes having been ruled out of the race following a crash at Turn 6 in qualifying, the safety of the bumps, and therefore the circuit, has been thrown into question. A huge issue now for those involved in the crash is whether their cars will be repaired in time for Sunday’s race, something which will be discovered nearer the time.
When Saturday’s race gets back underway, Sacha Fenestraz will lead the field from polesitter Mitch Evans, ahead of René Rast.
