For the fans, when the checked flag fell, the thing going through their minds was how to fill the gap until Belgium three weeks later. Being a fan of the sport as well, I found myself in the same predicament. With three week shy to the next race, I could either watch race reruns or occupy my time some way else.
After watching Nick Heidfeld's Lotus-Renault R31 explode just outside of the pitlane exit, it brought me to think about Mark Webber's 'flight' in Valencia 2010. We have seen in the past few years, many accidents that have nearly been forgotten. When was the last time you can remember seeing a Formula One car take flight? 
Can you recall if you have ever seen one of them explode?Though some of the DNF's in 2011 have been frightening, we take a look back at the best Did Not Finishes in 2011 (so far).
Number 6 on the count down is one that most Formula One fans have come to nearly expect. Though the players may change, nearly every year in Monaco a car and driver will enter the Tunnel with four wheels and exit it with three or less. 2010 we saw Nico Hulkenberg enter gearing his car up for the long sweeping curve of turn 9 and exit the tunnel with less 'finesse'. 2011 was no different.
Hamilton hits the side of Massa at the Hairpin, and there is damage to the Ferrari. Then, in the tunnel, the two cars are side by side. Massa gets on the dirty side of the track and slams into the barriers.
Number 5 is all about the Lotus-Renault R31 in flight. For number 5 we see a tie. Both of LRGP's driver became airborne in their own way in separate races.
First we have Vitaly Petrov. Lap 53 of the 2011 Malaysia Grand Prix. Petrov's R31 went wide onto the grass. He hits a divot in the land and goes airborne. Upon impact, it is clear that his steering column snaps and is resting gently on his lap.
Secondly, and more recently, we have Nick Heidfeld with his fantastic flight and photographic landing (as seen above) in the kitty litter at the 2011 German Grand Prix.
What had happen is that while trying to pass Buemi around the outside under braking for the chicane. Having defended the inside line, Buemi moved back across to the racing line, giving Heidfeld no room and causing the Renault to launch off the side of the Toro Rosso.
Number 4 would have to be labeled as 'only in Monaco'.
Third to last lap in Monaco, the streets are narrow and Hamilton is doing everything possible to get to podium. Maldonado was next in his sights (for 6th position) was Pastor Maldonado. Hamilton saw is chance coming at Ste Devote and took the inside line to the Venezuelan. It ended with heavy contact and put Maldonado out of the race. Result was that Hamilton was given a 20 secs penalty but it did not affect his sixth position.
Seeing it live on the BBC feed it looked a mess. There was bits of cars all over the track and looking through the entanglement, you were able to see the leaders. Many teams and fans were amazed at the quick reflexes of the leaders to avoid the collision and drive to the checkered flag.
Number 3 on the count down is Hamilton vs Button at the 2011 Montreal Grand Prix. As quoted by David Coulthard,
"Colliding with your team-mate is the one thing you want to avoid at all costs."We all know that the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix has been cited as the longest Grand Prix in F1 history. Running from 13:00 right up to almost 17:00, the track was submerged in rain, the fans were soaked and that (proudly) Kobayashi was the last driver to leave his car during the two hour red flag. So with the massive amounts or water spraying off the cars and the tyres, it was no wonder that the two teammates collided as they did. As Hamilton attempted to overtake Button along the pit straight when they touched and he was squeezed into the wall damaging the left side of his car.
Number 2 on the best DNF's of 2011 (so far) would be one of the most disheartening ways to end a grand prix to a fan.
Lap 39 of 52 of the British Grand Prix Jenson Button enters the pitlane in 5th position. The pit stop it's self looked flawless but as the on board cameras started rolling on his pitlane exit, every single fan could see that there was a problem.
With the wheel wobbling off, Button pulled over at the pitlane exit and parked up the car before walking back to the garages. The mechanic working on the change of that tyre lost the wheelnut, and in picking up the spare wheel-gun, triggered the front-jack man into lowering the car, which in turn led to the lollipop man allowing Button to leave. The Briton was forced to retire from the race.
Coming in at Number 1 is by far, the most alarming way to end a grand prix. It takes extraordinary courage and a quick mind to think that by getting up to racing speed would put a fire out.
During the Hungarian Grand Prix, Nick Heidfeld hurriedly left his pit box following a delayed in the stop. The team believes its forward facing exhausts overheated while it was stationary - which in turn set the bodywork on fire.
Heidfeld exited the pits, hoping that getting up to racing speed would put the fire out, but it simply exacerbated the situation - with the side of the car igniting. He quickly pulled off the track before jumping out the car. As marshals attended the blaze, the car's sidepod exploded - spreading debris over the side of the track at the pit lane exit.
As an honourable mention, I feel that one of the best ways to obtain a DNF is by starting off with a DNS.
Remembering back to the season premier race in Australia, qualifier had started and there were 22 cars on track. Fans, teams and drivers alike where cautiously waiting and watching to see how the newly reacquainted tyre manufacturer, Pirelli, would hold up. The air temperature was cool, the track surface was not by any means warm and when the cameramen panned down the pitlane Hispania Racing had their F111 in pieces on the garage floor.
The 2011 Formula One season has come now to it's 'Summer Break'. There is a mandatory two week factory shut down. This essentially marks the season mid point leaving us with some of the most exciting weekends and circuits yet to come.
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