F1 champion crashes into Monaco harbour before eerie coincidences

Since 1950, the Monaco Grand Prix has been held 71 times as part of the F1 world championship, with this weekend's race set to be the 72nd blast around the Principality.

In that time, the Monaco harbour has become one of the most iconic backgrounds to any motor race, let alone F1 grand prix. 

But only two drivers in grand prix history have ended up in the drink after crashing into the harbour - and one of them was an F1 champion, no less.

Having won the drivers' title in 1952 and 1953 for Ferrari, with these seasons being run to F2 regulations, Alberto Ascari moved to Lancia for 1954, but the D50 machine was dreadfully unreliable. 

Come the 1955 Monaco GP, Ascari was leading in his Lancia after Stirling Moss had retired with engine failure, but a misjudgment on Lap 80 of 100 at what would become the chicane after the tunnel ended with the Italian's car sinking into the harbour. 

Fortunately, he was able to escape and swim to safety, but just four days later, Ascari would be killed at Monza. 

Testing a Ferrari sportscar, he crashed at the corner, now which carries his name, then just a fast-left hander and not a chicane, and was killed.

The exact circumstances of the crash were a mystery, with some claiming to have seen people crossing the track, causing Ascari to lose control, but the accepted reason is that he simply lost control, with the car somersaulting before coming to rest.

Alberto's father, Antonio, had also been killed in a race car, while leading the 1925 French Grand Prix. Both men died at 36 years of age, on the 26th of the month, four days after surviving an accident. Alberto was four days older than his father when he died. 

The only other driver to ever crash into the Monaco harbour came 10 years after Ascari in the 1965 race. 

Lotus racer Paul Hawkins also misjudged the chicane, but like Ascari, was able to escape the car as it sank to the bottom of the Mediterranean. 

Hawkins would also be killed in a racing car. 

He died after a crash in the United Kingdom at Oulton Park in the RAC Trophy. His Lola entry crashed and caught fire, with the Australian succumbing to his injuries. He died on May 26th, 1969, 14 years to the day since Ascari himself was killed.