Sao Paulo witnessed early drama after the Haas of Kevin Magnussen and Williams’ Alexander Albon made contact almost straight out of the gates. Debris was seen flying across the track as both driver skidded into the tyre wall, but that wasn’t the end of the fallout.

AlphaTauri driver Daniel Ricciardo was also caught up as collateral after it appeared his car was struck by a tyre from one of his obliterated opponents. That’s in addition to McLaren’s Oscar Piastri being told to pit after his team told him his car was unfit to drive.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc didn’t even get to start his race in earnest after a hydraulics issue forced him out on the formation lap. The Monegasque has endured a difficult 2023 season and was heard asking his team: “Why the f*** am I so unlucky?”

The stoppage was particularly poorly timed for Lando Norris, who made great progress to leap from sixth to second and overtake everyone but pole-sitter Max Verstappen. However, McLaren were somewhat glad of the pause after it gave them a chance to work on Piastri’s car.

Alexander Albon and Kevin Magnussen were retired almost instantly (Image: Mark Thompson/Getty Images)Albon’s car was battered in the melee (Image: Mark Thompson/Getty Images)