Haas Formula 1 driver Nico Hulkenberg expressed his frustration over the start accident at the Monaco Grand Prix, attributing blame to both Sergio Perez and his teammate Kevin Magnussen. The incident occurred during the uphill stretch towards Massenet, as Perez and Magnussen collided, resulting in Perez's car crashing heavily and forcing a race red-flag. Unfortunately, Hulkenberg was also involved in the accident, unable to avoid Perez's spinning Red Bull, which clipped his rear axle and ended the race for all three drivers.

In an interview with Sky Germany, Hulkenberg described the incident as "stupid" and criticized both Perez and Magnussen for their actions. He questioned if Perez had seen Magnussen, suggesting that the collision could have been avoided if Perez had given more space. Simultaneously, Hulkenberg believed that Magnussen was overly optimistic about staying in a narrow section of the track leading up to Turn 3.

Speaking to the press, the German driver emphasized that the crash was "unnecessary from both" and could have been easily avoided. Hulkenberg expressed his disappointment as the accident happened in close proximity to him, missing the collision by only two-tenths. He revealed that if he had been slightly further ahead, the accident would have missed him. Hulkenberg expressed his frustration, acknowledging the team's significant investment of time and energy in preparation for the race.

When asked about his sympathy towards Magnussen attempting a risky maneuver in a circuit notorious for its limited overtaking opportunities, Hulkenberg responded positively, understanding the calculated risks involved in racing. However, he emphasized that no one has ever won the Monaco Grand Prix on the first lap, implying that a more cautious approach should have been taken.

Magnussen defended his actions by stating that he expected Perez to leave more space considering the natural curve of the road, which would have closed the gap on the right-hand side. Magnussen argued that he had positioned his car ahead of Perez's rear wheel and anticipated room for one car on the right, given the absence of any obstructions on the left side of the track. He expressed disappointment at both cars being involved in the crash and described the situation as "shitty."

Curiously, Magnussen narrowly escaped penalty points that could have resulted in a one-race ban. The FIA stewards categorized the incident as a racing incident and demonstrated confidence in their decision, stating that they would have been surprised if Magnussen had been penalized for the contact.

The Monaco Grand Prix proved to be a frustrating weekend for Haas, as both drivers had earlier been demoted to the back of the grid due to rear wing inspection failures after qualifying. Another casualty of the first lap was Esteban Ocon, who collided with his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly at Portier, resulting in rear-end damage for Ocon. Gasly, however, was able to continue the race without major damage and finished in 10th place after the restart.