VIDEO: Vettel CRASHES in Ferrari demo run

Sebastian Vettel will hope his 2018 does not come to be characterised by embarrassing crashes in his Ferrari SF71H, but he seems to be trying his best to drop them in! The four-time world champion was a star attraction at Formula 1's live event in Milan on Wednesday, but left red-faced after pranging his car.

Driving his current-spec car, Vettel was driving past crowds when he misjudged a tight left-hander and dumped his front wing into a barrier.

Thankfully, a sharp fan had a camera trained on the incident.

It's an inauspicious start to a pivotal week for Vettel and Ferrari as they prepare for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

Having dominated Mercedes for pace at Spa-Francorchamps last weekend, the Scuderia head to their home race favourites for a victory which would be their first at the 'Temple of Speed' since 2010.

With the Tifosi rabid with excitement, hopes may instead turn to Vettel only being able to keep it on the black stuff.

And with Vettel still 17 points adrift of Lewis Hamilton in the drivers' championship, the German cannot afford any mistakes, having given up the lead in the standings three times as a result of on-track errors already this season.

An overzealous safety-car restart in Azerbaijan, first-lap tangle in France, and of course his spin into the gravel at Hockenheim, have all hampered Vettel's hopes in 2018.

Vettel is a three-time winner at Monza in the past, however, and is in strong form, having taken to the podium in each of his three races in Italy with Ferrari.