F1: Fuel Leak Causes Lengthy Pit Lane Fire at Malaysian Grand Prix

The fire reignited repeatedly as fuel continued to pump out of a leak in the car.

A faulty valve reportedly led to a fire that engulfed the Renault driven by Kevin Magnussen during Friday's first practice session of the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix.

Magnussen made a regulation stop in the pit lane and the car was being pushed toward the team garage when flames flared up at the top of the fuel tank. The Danish driver was instructed to immediately get out, and he sprang out just as the flames began to lick at the side of the vehicle's cockpit. He was unhurt in the incident.

Team mechanics and track marshals sprayed the car with extinguishing foam. But the fire repeatedly reignited as fuel continued to pump out of the leak at the crest of the bodywork, behind the on-board camera.

The fire kept reigniting for several minutes. The pit crew and marshals stood poised with extinguishers pointed at the car, intermittently spraying at the fresh flames. After the team managed to attach a hose and drain the tank, the blaze was finally brought under control. The incident caused the session to be red-flagged for 15 minutes before the pit lane was deemed safe enough to resume.