Watch the 8 most surprising crashes in F1 history

#4 Nelson Piquet, Singapore 2008

This incident has to be one of the most embarrassing, not only on this list but also in the history of F1. Singapore was a new venue back then and it was the inaugural race at Marina Bay. The street circuit had its own challenges with the Turn 10 chicane proving to be especially notorious.

Renault’s driver line-up was Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet Jr. One was a world champion while the other was the son of an F1 world title winner. Yet, Renault had the audacity to plan something which would have a magnanimous impact on their reputation and cause a disgrace to the sport.

Felipe Massa qualified on pole and the Renault cars started back in 15th and 16th place. Alonso started on a light fuel load, so he stopped early on lap 12, switched tyres and rejoined at the back. On lap 14, his teammate Nelson Piquet Jr. lost control of his car and went into the barriers at Turn 17. He attributed the crash to hard tyres and a safety car was brought out.

Alonso, who had already pitted claimed the lead as the others went in and eventually won the race in his unfancied Renault after starting 15th on the grid. Nothing was thought of this incident until a year later when Piquet left Renault.

He made allegations that Renault manager Flavio Briatore and engineer, Pat Symonds of deliberately asking him to choose a corner and crash the car, to enable Alonso to clinch the victory. Initially, Renault said they would be contesting the charges but Briatore and Symonds left the team, leaving their reputation in tatters. Alonso was cleared of any wrongdoing as he was seemingly unaware of any such strategy.

VIDEO : Nelson Piquet Singapore 2008, Flavio Crashgate