1985 Monaco Grand Prix - Piquet/Patrese Accident

Piquet/Patrese Accident

There was a big accident on the pit straight involving Nelson Piquet and Riccardo Patrese, this accident was to affect the outcome of the race. The accident happened right after Piquet and Patrese crossed the start/finish line, Piquet attempted to pass Patrese, the two cars touched and Patrese crashed violently and collected Piquet, whose Brabham's rear suspension broke during the collision before Patrese collected Piquet. The cars then spun into the run-off at the first corner; both drivers were unhurt. Patrese's gearbox dropped oil onto the track which took off Niki Lauda and nearly took off Teo Fabi and race leader Michele Alboreto; Alboreto's off handed the lead to Alain Prost. Alboreto drove a hard race; he eventually caught Prost, and he was re-passed by Prost after he punctured his left rear tyre at the first corner where Piquet and Patrese crashed. This dropped him to 4th behind Andrea De Cesaris, Elio de Angelis and Prost; he caught and passed his compatriots but could not catch Prost; whose gap was too big for Alboreto to catch him with the amount of remaining laps.