The motorsport world was left stunned after a Formula 4 race at Italy’s Imola circuit was dramatically abandoned just 17 seconds into its run, following a colossal pile-up involving 15 vehicles.

The chaotic scenes unfolded at the very start of the second race of the day when a single car inexplicably remained stationary on the grid as the starting lights went out, setting the stage for a dramatic Formula 4 incident.

Drivers behind the stalled vehicle were forced into frantic evasive maneuvers, leading to a chain reaction of collisions as cars swerved, struck rivals, and became entangled in the escalating race incident.

Despite yellow flags being waved manically to alert drivers to the hazard, many participants, particularly those further back in the massive 39-car grid, reportedly failed to perceive the warning signals amidst the initial rush, contributing to the severe car crash.

The scale of the accident, which saw debris scattered across the start line following a major collision at the rear of the field, prompted race officials to immediately wave a red flag, bringing the event to an abrupt halt and highlighting critical motorsport safety concerns.

Initially suspended, the race was later completely abandoned, a decision reportedly influenced by the track’s noise curfew, leaving the rescheduling status of the event uncertain and raising questions about race abandonment protocols.

The dramatic incident also ignited considerable debate among motorsport enthusiasts, with many questioning the unusually large grid size of 39 cars for a Formula 4 race, compared to the standard 20 in other racing series.

Social media platforms became a hub for fan discussion, with some expressing disbelief at the number of cars, while others pondered how drivers could miss the clearly visible double-waved yellow flags indicating a severe slowdown was required, emphasizing the need for enhanced racing safety measures.

In a stark contrast, the earlier Formula 4 race at Imola had concluded without incident, seeing Gabriel Gomez clinch victory by a narrow 0.616 seconds over Salim Hanna Hernandez, underlining the unpredictable nature of auto racing.