With just two laps to go, the craziest few minutes in F1 history left fans, journalists and drivers stunned.
Prost was navigating his way around the swimming pool complex when his Renault, still fitted with dry tyres, lost control on the slippery surface and slammed into the barriers.
A tyre went flying in dramatic fashion, and with it all hope of the race win.
Patrese was now set for his first-ever victory but approaching the Loews hairpin, he too lost control and spun his Brabham on oil from another car.
He was fortunate to avoid the barriers on the slowest corner of the F1 calendar, but lost significant time recovering the car and slipped to third.
It was now Pironi’s turn to lead, but whilst in Monaco’s famous tunnel his Ferrari spluttered to a desperate halt. It later emerged that he ran out of fuel.
With Pironi out, the Alfa Romeo of
Andrea De Cesaris was next in line to take a maiden win. But in the time it took the TV cameras to locate him, he had also pulled off out of fuel.
Derek Daly’s Williams was also set for a podium but crashed out whilst a lap down on the leaders.
Despite his spin, seeking assistance from the marshalls to get going again, and driving an engine that was liable to break at any point, Patrese unknowingly crossed the finish line in first and took his maiden victory.
Pironi and De Cesaris were classified 2nd and 3rd respectively even though they failed to complete the final lap, as they had lapped the four other cars that were still running.