Ferrari F1 title hopes shatter in dramatic Singapore multi-car shunt

Sebastian Vettel's title bid suffered a catastrophic blow at the 2017 Singapore Grand Prix when both Ferraris and Max Verstappen's Red Bull were eliminated in a first-corner pile-up.

Pole-sitter Vettel moved left across the track at the start to shut the door on Verstappen, unaware that Kimi Raikkonen had made a blistering getaway from fourth on the grid along the inside, hugging the pit wall. 

The move sandwiched Verstappen between the two Ferraris with nowhere to go.

Verstappen's wheels made first contact with Raikkonen, sending the Finn's Ferrari spearing into Vettel's sidepod before Raikkonen also collected Fernando Alonso's McLaren at the apex. 

Vettel briefly held the lead after the initial hit but was forced to retire soon after, his car leaking fluid from a damaged radiator, floor and sidepod.

All three of Vettel, Raikkonen and Verstappen were out before the opening lap was complete. The FIA stewards investigated after the race, reviewing footage and speaking to all three drivers, before ruling it a racing incident with no one driver predominantly to blame.

Lewis Hamilton inherited the lead and went on to win from fifth on the grid, extending his championship advantage to 34 points over Vettel heading into the next round. 

Ferrari's winless afternoon was compounded on social media, where the team posted a message blaming Verstappen for the collision before insisting it was simply a factual account, as team principal Maurizio Arrivabene left the paddock without speaking to media.

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What was said?

Vettel offered a limited account of the incident, stating: "I didn't see that much. I saw Max and the next thing I see is obviously Kimi hitting the side of me and Max somewhere there."

Verstappen was unequivocal in laying blame on the Ferrari driver.

"He started squeezing me - maybe he didn't see Kimi on the left, but you know, that is not an excuse. 

“If you are fighting for the world championship you shouldn't take those risks to squeeze someone that much. I tried to back out of it because I could see it coming, but the rear tyres are wider than the front so I couldn't back out of it anymore.

“They took in total three cars out and I was in the middle doing nothing wrong. We'll see what happens. I'm happy not only I retired but all three of us so we all have a bit of pain."

Raikkonen, by contrast, declined to apportion blame at all: “I don't think I could have really done anything to avoid it. 

“I had a good start but then obviously got hit and our race was done so it's a shame. Whatever the cause of the accident, the end result doesn't change."