Grosjean repeats Piquet crash in Singapore

French rookie Romain Grosjean halted Singapore Grand Prix first practice on Friday by crashing his Renault at the same place where Nelson Piquet deliberately smashed into the wall a year ago.

In an amazing flashback to that inaugural 2008 race, Grosjean lost control on turn 17 of the Marina Bay Street Circuit and slammed into the opposite wall.

Renault were handed a suspended permanent ban for race-fixing earlier this week after Piquet confessed to crashing on purpose last year in a plot to help team mate Fernando Alonso win after the safety car was deployed.

Grosjean, who replaced Brazilian Piquet in August and was passed fit only on Friday morning after feeling unwell on Thursday, had completed nine laps when he crashed. He has not previously raced at the track.

Brawn GP's championship leader Jenson Button had recorded the fastest time of the session before the cars were ordered to return to the garages.

The track was cleared nine minutes after the crash and practice resumed with 36 minutes remaining.