Nico Hulkenberg walked away without injury despite being trapped when his Renault caught fire at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
World champion Lewis Hamilton ended the year of his career with an 11th victory under the lights of the Yas Marina circuit.
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel finished second, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen third and Aussie Daniel Ricciardo fourth.
But the race will be remembered for Hulkenberg’s opening-lap crash, which saw him somersault through the air after a collision with Romain Grosjean at the ninth bend, and landing upside down against the tyre barriers.
Flames briefly billowed from the back of his yellow Renault, with Hulkenberg unable to get out.
“I’m hanging like a cow,” the 31-year-old said over the radio. “Get me out. There is fire. There is fire.”
Hulkenberg was still upside down and strapped into his Renault. Safety marshals ran to the scene before the flames went out, and, after more than three minutes, they flipped the German’s car back on to four wheels.
Hulkenberg was assisted to the medical centre where the F1’s sporting federation (FIA) reported he was shaken but had escaped the incident unharmed.
“It was not the most comfortable situation to be in,” Hulkenberg said. “There was a little barbeque at the back, so I just wanted to get out. You feel pretty helpless.”
But did the Halo, the three-pronged safety device which sits above the driver’s head and became mandatory this year, prevent Hulkenberg from making his escape?
“I don’t know if it blocked me or not,” he added. “That was the first time for me having the car on the roof, so I was sitting tight waiting for the marshals and they reacted very quickly and obviously got me out.”
Pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton’s 11th victory of the season ensured he became the first driver to do that and break the 400-point barrier.
The five-time world champion ended the year 88 points clear of Vettel and 161 ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who didn’t win in 2018.
Fernando Alonso, competing in his 312th and final race before he heads for retirement, finished outside the top 10.