Chaotic Lap 6 Crashes Trigger Safety Car in Miami

A dramatic sixth lap at the Miami Grand Prix saw two separate crashes involving Isack Hadjar and Pierre Gasly, bringing out the safety car and significantly altering the race's early strategy. The incidents also eliminated Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson, prompting a stewards' investigation into the multi-car collision.

Why it matters:

The safety car period, triggered by the two crashes on the same lap, reshuffled the race order and forced teams into immediate strategic decisions under the threat of impending rain. For Alpine and Red Bull, losing both cars so early was a major blow to their points-scoring ambitions, particularly for Gasly who had been enjoying a solid start to the season.

The details:

• Hadjar's Solo Crash: Starting from the pitlane, the Red Bull driver clipped the wall, which appeared to break his front suspension, sending him heavily into the barriers at Turn 13. Frustrated, Hadjar was seen hitting his steering wheel and helmet after the impact.
• Gasly-Lawson Collision: In the same lap, Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson locked up on the inside of Pierre Gasly's Alpine as the Frenchman was defending and simultaneously attacking Alex Albon's Williams. The contact pitched Gasly's car into a roll before it crashed into the barriers. Gasly was unhurt and quickly confirmed he was okay.
• Immediate Consequences: Lawson also retired on the spot due to damage from the crash. The incident between Lawson and Gasly was placed under investigation by the race stewards.
• Race Order at SC: When the safety car was deployed, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was leading the race, with McLaren's Lando Norris having just overtaken polesitter Kimi Antonelli for second place.
• Strategic Gambles: With rain forecast for later in the race, many drivers and teams, including McLaren who informed Oscar Piastri of a potential "short shower" around Lap 25, opted not to pit during the safety car period to preserve track position. The safety car remained out until the end of Lap 11.

What's next:

The stewards' investigation into the Lawson-Gasly incident will determine any potential penalties, which could impact Lawson's racing license penalty points. For the teams involved, the focus shifts to repairing the cars and analyzing the failures. The crashes represent significant lost opportunities, especially for Alpine's Gasly, who was eighth in the championship, and highlight the fine margins and instant consequences of mid-pack battles in Formula 1.