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The opening lap of a Grand Prix is arguably the most exciting portion of a Formula 1 race. It includes intense action and high drama at the front, and the back of the grid as every driver tries his best to gain places before completing the first corner.
However, at times, things do not go according to plan, which results in massive pile-ups and collisions, forcing multiple drivers to retire in the very first lap. Failure in the power delivery system or a mechanical failure when the lights go green are other common reasons for opening lap retirements.
No matter what the reason, a retirement in the very first lap of a Grand Prix is very disappointing as the drivers' progress throughout the weekend comes to an abrupt halt.
The current Formula 1 grid has a host of drivers who experienced the disappointment of first lap retirements and let us look closer at the current line-up's five drivers with the most first lap retirements.
#5 Romain Grosjean - 7 retirements
Romain Grosjean kicks-off the list with seven retirements to his name. Throughout his career, the French driver has been involved in multiple first lap crashes that resulted in immediate retirements. The first lap collision at the 2018 Spanish Grand Prix is the most recent example of the same.
Grosjean holds a record of first lap retirement in his second Formula 1 Grand Prix. That collision stirred up controversy as the Frenchman rammed the back of the Championship leader - Jensen Button's car in the first lap, causing immediate retirements for both the drivers.
The 2012 Formula 1 season saw the French driver retire a record eight times - twice in the very first lap; once at the Monaco Grand Prix and once at the Belgian Grand Prix. Interestingly, this was Grosjean's second inaugural lap retirement at the Spa Francorchamps circuit.
Romain Grosjean managed to avoid any first lap retirements in 2013 and 2014; however, the 2015 season was not kind to the Frenchman, which saw him suffer two opening lap retirements at Albert Park and Silverstone.
The 2017 Russian Grand Prix's opening lap crash involving Palmer and the Frenchman is yet another first lap retirement for Grosjean.
#4 Fernando Alonso - 7 Retirements
Fernando Alonso suffered seven opening lap retirements in his long Formula 1 career. A gearbox failure at the 2001 Belgium Grand Prix was the Spaniard's first retirement without completing a single lap.
Alonso's second first lap retirement came at the 2008 European Grand Prix, seven years after his first. Alonso was taken out by Force India's Adrian Sutil on the very first lap of the 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix, which resulted in his third retirement.
Driving for the Ferrari, Alonso experienced two opening lap retirements during the 2012 Formula 1 Grand Prix, one due to a puncture while the other was due to a pile-up.
2015 Austrian Grand Prix saw the Spaniard's sixth retirement while the pile-up at the 2018 Belgium Grand Prix is Alonso's most recent first lap retirement.
#3 Sebastian Vettel - 7 Retirements
Driving for Toro Rosso in 2008, Sebastian Vettel was involved in four opening lap retirements. All the four retirements were triggered by first lap collisions, with three of them coming in the first five races of the season.
After that horrendous season, the German was not involved in any opening lap retirements till 2016. Driving for the Ferrari, Vettel was forced to retire from racing at the Russian Grand Prix after Daniil Kvyat plunged into the back of the German on the opening lap. A collision with Mercedes' Nico Rosberg at Sepang trigged his second opening lap retirement of the season.
The very next year saw yet another first lap retirement for the German. Unfortunately, this time, Vettel was taken out of action in the very first lap after his teammate - Kimi Raikkonen rammed into his Ferrari at the Singapore Grand Prix.
#2 Nico Hulkenberg - 10 retirements
Like Romain Grosjean, Hulkenberg too suffered an opening lap retirement in his second Formula 1 race at the 2010 Australian Grand Prix. Interestingly, his debut season featured three first lap collisions.
The 2011 Australian Grand Prix was not kind to the German as well. Driving for Force India, Hulkenberg suffered a first lap collision at Albert Park, forcing him to retire early. A collision at the first corner of the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was the German's second first lap retirement with Force India.
Much similar to the Australian Grand Prix, Nico Hulkenberg suffered two retirements in the as many years at the Russian Grand Prix. Both the retirements in 2015 and 2016 were the result of first lap collisions. A collision at the 2016 Singapore Grand Prix was the German's eighth opening lap retirement.
In 2018, Nico Hulkenberg suffered two retirements so far - one at the Spanish Grand Prix and one at the Belgian Grand Prix.
#1 Kimi Raikkonen - 11 retirements
Kimi Raikkonen leads the list with eleven first lap retirements. Like other drivers on this list, the Finn suffered a first lap retirement in his second Grand Prix. The 2001 Formula 1 season saw Raikkonen retire twice on the opening lap of the Grand Prix due to a transmission failure.
Driving for McLaren, first lap collisions at the 2003 Spanish Grand Prix and the 2003 German Grand Prix forced Raikkonen to retire before completing a single lap. The 2006 Formula 1 season too featured Raikkonen's opening lap retirements due to collisions in the first lap. Along with the Finn, the 2006 United States Grand Prix saw six other drivers retire on the opening lap due to the collision.
A first lap crash during the 2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix not only forced him to retire from the race but also resulted in him undergoing back surgery. 2014 Austrian Grand Prix and the 2015 British Grand Prix are the other two races that involved Raikkonen's retirement in the very first lap of the race.
The 2017 season saw Raikkonen suffer two first lap retirements, which includes the infamous collision with his teammate at the Singapore Grand Prix.
