Spa-Francorchamps - Brazilian Rubens Barrichello's 300th F1 Grand Prix lasted less than a lap on Sunday.
The Williams driver, who has competed in more than a third of all the championship Grands Prix ever held since the first in 1950, tangled with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso at the Bus Stop chicane as a sudden shower made conditions slippery.
Barrichello retired on the spot while Alonso made his way back to the pits and rejoined the race. He eventually spun out six laps from the finish.
"I was closing the door on (Nico) Rosberg and when I touched the brakes, even though it was quite early, it wasn't sufficient to stop the car," said former Ferrari driver Barrichello in a team release.
"The car went straight on into Alonso, for which I'm sorry.
"We've had such a positive weekend that a good result would have been a nice conclusion. Despite not having a good outcome in my 300th race, I'm confident we will go well in the 301st."
The next race, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, is Ferrari's home race and Alonso's first as a driver for the team in front of their home fans.
The retirement left the double world champion 41 points adrift of overall leader Lewis Hamilton, a former McLaren team mate.