If you race along a harbour long enough, someone is bound to end up in the water. Modern day safety in Formula 1 has prevented such a peril but decades ago, two men took the plunge in Monaco.

Seen here are the soaked remains of Paul Hawkins' Lotus being pulled out of the water in 1965. The Australian driver had spun at the chicane on the 79th lap and darted straight off into the Mediterranean.

Fortunately, he was able to escape the sinking Lotus and swim safely to shore, greeted by his mocking mechanics who later attached a lifebuoy to his retrieved car with the moniker "Swimming Kangaroo".

Ten years earlier in 1955, Alberto Ascari had also gone for an inadvertent dip with his superb Lancia D50. The Italian also swam to safety but tragically, it was but a short respite for Ascari.

Just four days after his Monaco plunge, on May 26, the double world champion was killed while testing a Ferrari sports car at Monza.

Strangely, Hawkins also died on May 26. He was killed in 1969 when his Lola T70 crashed at Oulton Park.