Ericsson escapes injury in Monza smash

Sauber driver crashes at first corner in practice 220mph accident due to mechanical failure

Marcus Ericsson will take part in today’s qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix only 24 hours after surviving one of the biggest crashes in recent Formula One history.

Just five days after Charles Leclerc emerged unscathed from a terrifying opening-corner accident in Belgium, the sport held its breath once more as Ericsson lost control of his Sauber at 220mph in practice.

As Ericsson attempted to stop for the opening corner at the fastest circuit on the calendar, he veered left and into the barrier.

The force of the impact registered in excess of 20G, seven times the maximum force of a launching space shuttle, and sent his car spiralling out of control.

He somersaulted in the air three times as his car disintegrated into pieces across the course.

Remarkably, the Swedish driver landed the right way up and moments later he was on the radio to confirm he was unharmed. “I don’t know what happened,” he said. “I’m OK.”

Ericsson, 27, was helped by safety officials into the medical car and an examination by doctors provided him with the all clear to continue his participation this weekend.

He appeared to return to the Sauber garage with a limp, and he was also rubbing his neck, but the FIA said last night that he would require further medical tests only if he reported feeling unwell.

Sauber confirmed Ericsson’s crash was caused by a mechanical failure after the drag reduction system on his rear wing did not close, which caused him to lose control.

“Marcus is OK,” Frederic Vasseur, the Sauber team principal, said. “He was a bit shocked but the car will be ready to race.”

Leclerc, Ericsson’s 20-year-old team-mate, was fortunate to avoid injury at Spa last weekend when Fernando Alonso’s airborne Mclaren was deflected from his head by the “halo”, F1’s cockpit protection device.

Ericsson’s ability to walk away from yesterday’s crash without so much as a scratch was again testament to the sport’s impressive safety record. “I am all fine,” he said in a video posted on social media last night.

“It was a big one. The safety of the cars is incredible. Hopefully, tomorrow we should be back fighting and I look forward to that.”

Ericsson’s crash caused the second practice session to be held up for 20 minutes before Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen completed a Ferrari one-two.

Ferrari have not won on home turf since Fernando Alonso took the chequered flag in 2010.

Lewis Hamilton, who holds a 17-point championship lead over Vettel, finished third, 0.287 seconds slower than his title rival.

Crash landing: Marcus Ericsson in a Sauber somersaults out of control at the opening corner at Monza in practice for the Italian Grand Prix