The lack of visibility and grip into the Turn 20-21 right-hander caught a number of drivers out on the first lap of the race and led to them hitting the wall, with de Vries skittering into the path of Buemi - who had already crashed ahead of him.
The Mercedes then lifted Buemi's car and slotted underneath, with the halo holding the Nissan away from de Vries' head. There was a clear slash in the nose of the Dutchman's car, but de Vries was kept out of harm's way through the multiple safety devices on board the car.
