McLaren driver Lando Norris, who finished second in the 2024 Formula 1 season, was not behind the wheel himself when his expensive Ferrari F40 was wrecked in Monaco.
Formula One star Lando Norris was not involved in an accident in Monaco, but it has likely cost him a Ferrari F40. The accident is the second in just a week involving the iconic Italian supercar.
Lando Norris' F40 was hurtling through the streets of Monaco when the driver, who was reportedly not Norris himself, lost control of the car and hit a guardrail. The car was luckier than the F40 that crashed in the UK a few days earlier.
Both accidents occurred under similar circumstances. The driver accelerated sharply, causing the car to lose traction and skid. The Ferrari F40 is known for its lack of electronic assistance systems, which can be a challenge for inexperienced drivers.
The accidents involving Norris' car and the British F40 come shortly after a third incident in Germany, where a 24-year-old man crashed into an F40 belonging to a car dealer.
The young man, who was only going to drive the car for a short trip, lost control of the powerful V8 engine with twin turbochargers. The F40, which had only covered 21,000 kilometers since 1988, was listed for sale for 21.4 million kroner.
It is not known whether the young man is still employed at the car dealership after the accident, but German authorities have confirmed that he escaped without serious injuries.
The three accidents in a short period of time raise questions about whether the legendary Ferrari F40, of which only 1,311 were produced, is a car that is difficult for ordinary drivers to handle.
The F40 is known for its uncompromising performance and raw driving experience, but its lack of modern safety systems requires a great deal of experience and expertise behind the wheel.
Both accidents happened in exactly the same way. The driver presses the gas hard, the car skids on a straight, and the driver loses control.
READ ALSO: Comedian turned down 175 million kroner for famous Porsche
Ferrari's mythical model has no assistance systems whatsoever, and many drivers may not be used to that.
Lando Norris has yet to comment publicly on the accident in Monaco. The question is how much it will cost to repair the car. And whether it can even be done.
In a fourth case, an F40 went up in flames while returning from a lengthy rebuild. And in 2020, a fifth car burned down in the middle of the streets of Monaco. In other words – there are at least 1,311 examples of the famous Italian left.
Did you know that all F40s rolled out of the Maranello factory in red? Ferrari refused to come up with other colors. When yellow, blue and silver cars are still available, it's because of repaints.
The Sultan of Brunei was and is quite fond of this kind of thing. It is said that among the Sultan's at least 7,000 cars there are several F40 models that the world has never seen before.
