JAKARTADAILY.ID - Formula 2 drivers Enzo Fittipaldi and Theo Pourchaire were taken to the hospital after a horrific incident at the opening of the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, Mirror UK reported on Sunday (December 5, 2021).
Motorsport governing body Federation Internationale de l'Automobile or FIA confirmed the incident and released a statement shortly after, stating: "The FIA advises that incident occurred during the FIA Formula 2 Feature Race start today, 05/12/21, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, involving car #10, Théo Pourchaire, and car #14, Enzo Fittipaldi."
"The drivers were immediately attended to by emergency and medical crews. The drivers were conscious and extricated by the attending medical crews. Both have been transferred by ambulance and helicopter to King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah," the statement added.
Pourchaire, 18, and Fittipaldi, 20, collided as the race began in Jeddah, with Pourchaire appearing to stall from third on the grid and being hit by Fittipaldi. The race was shortened to 20 minutes and one lap as a result of the lengthy red flag.
The race was cut short after Guilherme Samaia and Olli Caldwell crashed, awarding half points to everyone despite Oscar Piastri crossing the finish line first. Formula 2 confirmed that the race would resume at 3.45 p.m. UK time.
Fittipaldi was airlifted to hospital, according to L'Equipe, a French sports newspaper. There have been no further developments about any of the drivers.
Pourchaire made his F2 debut in 2020 and has competed in 15 races, winning two of them. In 2018, he won the French F4 Junior Championship, and in 2019, he won the ADAC Formula 4 title. Fittipaldi, meanwhile, made his F2 debut this year after competing in 30 F3 races. In 2018, he won the Italian F4 championship.
