Manhole cover behind Barrichello Monaco shunt 24 May 2010
A loose manhole cover was the cause of Rubens Barrichello’s spectacular crash during the recent Monaco Grand Prix, the Williams team have confirmed. Barrichello went out of the race on lap 31 while running in tenth place.
Having investigated the incident, which saw the Brazilian lose control of his FW32 on the run up the hill to Massenet, Williams have concluded that as Barrichello drove over the offending cover at Turn 2, it spun upwards and hit his car’s rear left wheel, causing a failure. Williams have reported their findings to the FIA.
Barrichello’s accident caused the second safety-car period of the Monte Carlo race, the first having come when team mate Nico Hulkenberg crashed out due to a front wing failure. A third safety car came shortly after Barrichello’s off, this time when a manhole cover came loose at Turn 3.
