As the cars funnelled along the start-finish straight into the Senna Esses on the first lap, Haas driver Kevin Magnussen was squeezed to the right and tagged the Williams of Alex Albon.
Albon was then spun around to the left and swiped the other Haas of Nico Hulkenberg, before spearing off into the crash barriers on the right, with Magnussen also joining him in the run off area at the top of the hill. Both drivers climbed out of their cars unaided.
While the safety car was immediately called out to allow marshals to recover the two stranded cars, a red flagged was called soon after because Albon’s impact had damaged the tyre barriers.
Other cars were also caught up in what was a chaotic start to the Interlagos race.
Charles Leclerc was out on the formation lap when it appeared he suffered some kind of mechanical issue and spun into the barriers.
Daniel Ricciardo also appeared to be out of the race after he was hit by a tyre from Albon's car amid the first corner chaos and returned to the pits.
Oscar Piastri was also caught up the in clash and his team was trying to fix his car during the red flag interval.
Source: Autosport