The streets of Monte Carlo witnessed a crash one of the most dramatic starts to a race in recent Formula 2 history as a 12-car pile-up brought the 2025 Monaco F2 feature race to a standstill just seconds after lights out.
Pole-sitter Alex Dunne and front-row rival Victor Martins clashed at Turn 1, igniting a chain reaction that left over half the grid either blocked or damaged in the chaos. Martins had made the better getaway off the line, but as the pair approached the narrow right-hander at Sainte Devote, Dunne lunged up the inside. The move proved disastrous — Dunne’s front wing clipped the rear of Martins’ car, sending both spinning into the barrier.
As the two leaders came to a halt, the rest of the field arrived at full speed with nowhere to go. Cars collided in quick succession, some mounting each other in a tangled wreckage of carbon fibre and rubber. Within moments, 12 drivers were involved, and the red flags were immediately waved.
Martins fuming as seven drivers retire from massive F2 Monaco crash
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and all drivers returned to the paddock unharmed. However, the crash ended the day early for seven competitors, including both Dunne and Martins. They were joined on the sidelines by Richard Verschoor, Gabriele Mini, Ritomo Miyata, Pepe Marti, and Max Esterson.
A furious Martins didn’t hold back after the incident, venting his frustration over team radio. “Who does he think he is, Max Verstappen?” the ART Grand Prix driver snapped, referencing Verstappen’s aggressive racing style — a clear jab at what he believed to be reckless driving from Dunne.
Dunne, who had already faced scrutiny for a qualifying incident earlier in the weekend, may now come under further investigation from stewards following the chaos.
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The scale of the incident forced race control to suspend proceedings while marshals cleared the wreckage and repaired the damaged Tecpro barriers. After nearly 30 minutes, the surviving 16 cars lined up for a restart behind the safety car — though the drama wasn’t done yet.
With just over five minutes remaining on the race clock, Dino Beganovic crashed at Casino Square, once again triggering a red flag. This time, the race was not resumed. Jak Crawford, who was leading at the time of the stoppage, was declared the winner.
Crawford wins bizarre Formula 2 race
Crawford’s victory — his first in a Formula 2 feature race — came in unusual circumstances. “Oh my gosh! I don’t know what just happened! Luckiest day of my life, to be honest!” the DAMS driver said after securing 25 crucial points.
Leonardo Fornaroli finished second for Invicta Racing, a result that elevated him to the top of the championship standings. Sebastian Montoya completed the podium after Arvid Lindblad was demoted due to a five-second penalty for pit lane speeding.
The chaotic events marked one of the most unforgettable Formula 2 races ever held in Monaco. While the red flags may have robbed fans of a full race distance, they also prevented further incidents on a weekend where the famous streets of Monte Carlo proved, once again, just how unforgiving they can be.
