The Australian Grand Prix was overshadowed by a massive accident between the McLaren of Fernando Alonso and the Haas of Esteban Gutiérrez. The McLaren took most of the damage in the high speed accident, as it was left in pieces.
There was a brief safety car period following the accident, but the red flag was released shortly after so that the safety crew could clean up the large amount of debris on the track and in the gravel trap. The red flag played a huge factor in the teams’ tyre strategy and a few teams got a free tyre change without losing track position.
The accident occurred on lap 17 in turn three when Alonso made heavy contact with the rear of Gutiérrez’s car. The Haas driver began braking for the corner earlier than the McLaren did and Gutiérrez was somewhat indecisive on which line to take into the corner, meaning that Alonso was slightly pinched. Alonso’s car than skidded sideways across the track, but then overturned when it made contact with the gravel trap. The car flipped multiple times and came to rest at the back side of the gravel. Both drivers escaped the accident uninjured, but neither car was able to continue the race.
Fernando Alonso describes the accident:
“I’m thankful I’m alive and that nothing serious happened – it was a big shunt.
A combination of factors caused Esteban [Gutierrez] and me to end up crashing. I was in the car flying and bouncing around – I could see the sky, then the ground, then the sky again. Then, when the car landed, I saw a little gap and I got out quickly to make sure that my mum, who was watching the race on TV at home, could see that I was okay!
It was a racing incident – I’m very happy we’re both fine, which is the most important thing.
But, soon afterwards, my thoughts switched to frustration and disappointment, because we missed an opportunity to get some points in the first race of the season, and we probably lost a power unit too because the car is more or less completely destroyed.
We risk our lives every time we get in a Formula 1 car: these things happen, but I’m extremely happy to be okay. The reason I’m still alive is probably thanks to all the fantastic work the FIA has done over the past 10 or 15 years to improve safety, work they continue to do. And I’m also grateful to everyone at McLaren, who built me such a strong and safe car.”
The incident was to be investigated after the race, but it was decided that neither driver would receive a penalty for the accident. Both drivers escaped from the wreckage without assistance and they both visited the medical facilities for assessment. Eric Boullier, McLaren-Honda Racing Director, was able to confirm that Alonso had “visited the FIA medical centre immediately after the accident, and was formally okayed by the doctors there”.
