A terrifying three-car crash unseen on the live broadcast brought the Monaco Grand Prix to a standstill on the first lap, with Sergio Perez’s car totally destroyed.
All the focus off the line was on Ferrari polesitter Charles Leclerc, McLaren’s Aussie star Oscar Piastri and the other Ferrari of Carlos Sainz — with the latter appearing to retire with damage after just a few corners — but the red flag flew when chaos unfolded further down the order.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Sergio Perez suffers huge crash on lap one.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today 
The broadcast soon cut to the ugly sight of Perez’s car torn to shreds with just one wheel left in place and the two Haas cars of Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg broken down beside it.
All three drivers walked away unharmed.
The crash took hold when Magnussen attempted to squeeze down Perez’s right side going up the hill, only for the the wall to close in.
Magnussen’s front left tyre was clipped by Perez’s right rear and the latter went tumbling at high speed further down track.
Debris littered the track while a barrier was damaged and needed repair, and it soon emerged a photographer standing trackside was injured during the sequence of events.
“The most important thing today is that we can all go home,” Perez wrote later.
“It was a very serious and completely unnecessary accident from my point of view. I also hope that every photographer that was in the area is ok.”
Officials said the photographer was assessed at the medical centre and cleared of serious injury.
The crash instantly put Magnussen at risk of being banned from the next race with a penalty potentially sending him over the 12-point treshold.
But it was quickly deemed a racing incident.
Onboard footage showed Perez was looking in his right mirror and well aware that Magnussen was behind him.
In the dramatic opening lap, the two Alpines of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly also collided as the former narrowly avoided being flipped over when he cut down the inside of his teammate.
Race officials ordered a standing restart with Leclerc and Piastri remaining in the top two positions while Sainz was granted a second chance because the red flag came so early.
Leclerc won the restarted Monaco Grand Prix for his first victory in nearly two years, and after serious bad luck at his home race.
He was on pole for the third time in four years but had never previously finished on the podium and, in 2021, even suffered the ignominy of failing to start the race.
“Tonight’s going to be a big night,” Leclerc told his team over the radio.
A Monaco victory felt extra special for him, having grown up in a flat overlooking the start-finish line watching cars zooming past below.
“No words can explain that. It was the race that made me want to be a Formula One driver one day,” the 26-year-old said.
“Seeing so many of my friends on the balcony, so many people I know. It means a huge amount to me.”
The last 15 laps were the most difficult as the realisation of how much winning would mean dawned on him.
“I must say I was thinking about my dad,” Leclerc said of his late father.
“It was a dream of ours for me to race here and win, so it’s unbelievable.”
Piastri now sits sixth in the championship after his first podium of the season, having previously finished fourth on three occasions.
“The pace at the beginning was incredibly slow but it’s been a great weekend for the team,” he said.
“I’ve been strong the last few weekends but didn’t have the result to show for it. Nice to have a podium. Charles has been mega all weekend. They have been quick from the very first lap.”
Championship leader Max Verstappen started and finished sixth.
The red flag allowed drivers to change their tyres and ensured pit stops would not be required.
