Formula 1

Twelve wild rides of 2016: Fernando Alonso's dramatic flip

Published Dec. 15, 2016 5:03 p.m. ET

Samuel Reiman

Editor’s note: On weekdays from Dec. 1 to Dec. 16, FOX Sports will be counting down the 12 wildest rides of 2016.

One of the most dramatic wrecks of the year happened right at the start of the 2016 F1 racing season, when Fernando Alonso’s McLaren and Esteban Gutierrez’ Haas F1 cars collided entering Turn 3 of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

The red flags were deployed as both cars spun out into the gravel and were out of the race. However, while Gutierrez’ car came to a halt in the kitty litter, Alonso’s car was tossed upside-down and flew through the air before crashing back down onto the ground.

The gravel turns Fernando Alonso's McLaren upside-down. (Photo by Alex Coppel/Herald Sun/Getty Images)

The gravel turns Fernando Alonso's McLaren upside-down. (Photo by Alex Coppel/Herald Sun/Getty Images)

While Alonso missed the second race of the season in Bahrain due to broken ribs and a partially collapsed lung, he was back in action just two races later in China.

Video of the incident is available on Formula One’s website.

No. 3: Sprint car clears 22-foot fence
No. 4: Cruz Pedregon’s wheel stand
No. 5: Insane flip at Oulton Park
No. 6: Sidnei Frigo’s Pro Mod flip
No. 7: Christopher Bell’s Daytona flip
No. 8: Jason Anderson gets hit in the head
No. 9: Josef Newgarden goes head-first into wall
No. 10: Aussie Racing Cars barrel-roll
No. 11: “The Big One” at Bowman Gray
No. 12: Rally car rolls through crowd of spectators

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