Jenson Button escapes unscathed from frightening Monza crash with Honda - On This Day

20 years ago today, Jenson Button suffered one of the biggest accidents of his F1 career during a test at Monza.

Among the famous corners at the Italian track is the final corner, commonly referred to as the 'Parabolica', where cars travel at approximately 260 kilometres per hour.

The speed is often augmented due to the low-downforce configuration that teams use to prepare for the race at Monza.

According to initial reports, Button’s crash was caused by a problem with the left rear, presumably involving the suspension or wheel mounting. 

Button braked for the turn and turned the wheel, after which the rear of the car suddenly lost traction. The RA106 shot straight into the gravel trap, skidded across the gravel at high speed, and then crashed hard into the tyre barriers.

The impact caused significant damage. The left side of the car, in particular, was severely damaged along nearly its entire length, while parts of the suspension and bodywork were also lost. 

Honda breathes a sigh of relief

Despite the force of the impact, the cockpit remained intact. 

Button was able to climb out of the car on his own and immediately reported that he had not sustained any injuries.

Honda breathed a sigh of relief, although the crash did cause a significant interruption to the test programme. 

The test at Monza was focused on preparing for the fast Italian circuit, where engine power, stability under braking, and efficient aerodynamic setup are crucial. 

Afterwards, the team investigated the cause of the failure to prevent a recurrence during the grand prix weekend.