List of Formula One fatalities
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In Formula One, safety standards have improved since the first World Championship Grand Prix at Silverstone in 1950, where there was no medical back-up or safety measures in case of an accident.[1] In the 1960s helmets and overalls became mandatory and the FIA assumed responsibility for safety at the circuits.[1] Further steps were taken to improve the safety of the Formula One car in the 1970s: the cockpit opening was enlarged allowing the driver quicker escape in the event of an accident and outside mirrors became mandatory.[2] In the 1980s the carbon fibre monocoque replaced aluminium, increasing protection upon impact.[3] Following the death of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna at Imola in 1994, a number of measures were introduced in an attempt to slow the cars down, including a wooden undertray. In 1998 grooved tyres replaced racing slick tyres to reduce cornering speed.[4] Safety measures continued to be introduced into the 21st century, with a number of circuits changing their configuration to improve driver safety.[5]
This list includes drivers who have died during a FIA World Championship race weekend, and those who have died while driving a Formula One car outside of the World Championship. Track marshals and other race attendees who have died as a result of these accidents are not included in the list. Fifty-one drivers have died driving a Formula One car, with Cameron Earl being the first in 1952. Thirty-three of the drivers died during Grand Prix race weekends which formed part of the World Championship, six during test sessions and twelve during non-championship Formula One events. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has seen the most fatalities; seven drivers have died there during the time that the Indianapolis 500 formed part of the world championship. Fifteen drivers died in the 1950s; fourteen in the 1960s; twelve in the 1970s; four in the 1980s and two in the 1990s. Following the deaths of Ratzenberger and Senna in 1994, there were no driver fatalities during world championship events for more than 20 years until Jules Bianchi's death in 2015, from injuries sustained during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.[A][6]
Only two Formula One Champions have died while racing or practicing in Formula One, Jochen Rindt in 1970, and Ayrton Senna in 1994. Rindt is the only driver to win the championship posthumously.[7]
Fatalities
Indicates a race or test drive that was not part of the Formula One World Championship. |
By nationality
Nationality | Total |
---|---|
United Kingdom | 14 |
United States | 10 |
Italy | 7 |
Austria | 4 |
France | 4 |
Germany | 2 |
Argentina | 1 |
Australia | 1 |
Belgium | 1 |
Brazil | 1 |
Canada | 1 |
Mexico | 1 |
Netherlands | 1 |
Rhodesia and Nyasaland | 1 |
Sweden | 1 |
Switzerland | 1 |
By circuit
Circuit | Total | First | Most recent |
---|---|---|---|
Indianapolis Motor Speedway | 7 | 1953 | 1959 |
Nürburgring | 5 | 1954 | 1969 |
Silverstone Circuit | 4 | 1960 | 2014 |
Modena Autodrome | 3 | 1953 | 1961 |
Brands Hatch | 3 | 1961 | 1977 |
Autodromo Nazionale Monza | 3 | 1961 | 1978 |
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | 2 | 1960 | 1960 |
Circuit Park Zandvoort | 2 | 1970 | 1973 |
Watkins Glen | 2 | 1973 | 1974 |
Kyalami | 2 | 1974 | 1977 |
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari | 2 | 1994 | 1994 |
MIRA | 1 | 1952 | 1952 |
Pau Circuit | 1 | 1955 | 1955 |
Reims-Gueux | 1 | 1958 | 1958 |
Ain-Diab Circuit | 1 | 1958 | 1958 |
Westmead Circuit | 1 | 1962 | 1962 |
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez | 1 | 1962 | 1962 |
Circuit de Monaco | 1 | 1967 | 1967 |
Rouen-Les-Essarts | 1 | 1968 | 1968 |
Österreichring | 1 | 1975 | 1975 |
Hockenheimring | 1 | 1980 | 1980 |
Circuit Zolder | 1 | 1982 | 1982 |
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve | 1 | 1982 | 1982 |
Circuit Paul Ricard | 1 | 1986 | 1986 |
Goodwood Hillclimb | 1 | 2000 | 2000 |
Autodrom Most | 1 | 2002 | 2002 |
Suzuka Circuit | 1 | 2014 | 2014 |
Notes
A. a Four drivers have died since 1994: John Dawson-Damer in 2000, Fritz Glatz in 2002, Denis Welch in 2014, and Jules Bianchi in 2015. The first 3 drivers died while driving historic Formula One cars outside of World Championship Grands Prix, while Bianchi died as a result of injuries sustained in the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.[36][38][39]
B. a b c d e f g From 1950 to 1960, the Indianapolis 500 was part of the World Drivers Championship.[40]
C. ^ Taylor died of 50 per cent burns five weeks after the accident.[18]
D. ^ Bandini died of his injuries three days after the accident.[19]
E. ^ As well as Tom Pryce, Jansen Van Vuuren, a teenage volunteer safety marshal, died in the accident after Pryce collided with him at high speed.[29]
F. ^ Peterson died the following day in hospital, as a result of fat embolism.[41]
G. ^ Bianchi remained comatose in hospital until he succumbed to his injuries on 17 July 2015.[6]
H. ^ Von Trips and 15 spectators died as result of the crash. This is the deadliest F1 Grand Prix that includes fatalities of non-drivers.[42]
References
- 1 2 "The fifties and sixties". Formula 1. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
- ↑ "The seventies". Formula 1. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
- ↑ "The eighties". Formula 1. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
- ↑ "The nineties". Formula 1. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
- ↑ "The 21st century". Formula 1. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
- 1 2 3 DiZinno, Tony (17 July 2015). "Jules Bianchi dies at age 25, his family confirms". NBC Sports. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
- 1 2 Benson, Andrew (13 March 2012). "Formula 1's Greatest Drivers. Number 20: Jochen Rindt". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ↑ "Killed While Testing Racing Car". The Times (London). 19 June 1952. p. 4.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Williamson, Martin. "Deaths in Formula One". ESPN. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ↑ "Charles de Tornaco". ESPN. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ↑ "XVI Grand Prix de Pau". Motor Sport (Teesdale Publishing) XXXI (5): 264–265. May 1955.
- ↑ Diepraam, Mattijs; Muelas, Felix. "The dashing Milanese that stayed young forever". Autosport. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ↑ "Silverstone '58 – Hawthorn & Collins' all-English affair". Formula 1. 6 July 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ↑ "Racing Driver Dies After Crash". The Times (London). 2 June 1961. p. 23.
- ↑ "Four die in Italian race car crash". The Times (London). 16 June 1961. p. 13.
- ↑ Williams, Richard (5 September 2011). "When motor racing was a matter of life and death". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ↑ "Ricardo Rodríguez". ESPN. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- 1 2 "John Taylor". ESPN. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- 1 2 "Lorenzo Bandini". ESPN. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ↑ "Bob Anderson". ESPN. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ↑ "Schlesser dies in experimental honda at Rouen". ESPN. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ↑ "Racing car death". The Times (London). 26 May 1970. p. 2.
- ↑ "Martin Brain". Motorsport Memorial. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
- ↑ Edworthy, Sarah (19 July 2003). "Piers Courage lived life to the full and was tipped for GP greatness". The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ↑ "Jo Siffert". ESPN. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ↑ "François Cevert". ESPN. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ↑ "Peter Revson". ESPN. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ↑ Katz, Michael (7 October 1974). "Driver Is Killed as Fittipaldi Wins Title at Watkins Glen". The New York Times. p. 45. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- 1 2 "Plaque to commemorate F1 winner". BBC News. 11 June 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ↑ "News in Brief: Brands Hatch crash kills 2". The Times (London). 30 August 1977. p. 1.
- ↑ "Formula 1's Greatest Drivers – 19 Ronnie Peterson". Autosport. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ↑ "Patrick Depailler". ESPN. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ↑ Benson, Andrew (4 July 2012). "Formula 1's greatest drivers. Number 12: Gilles Villeneuve". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ↑ "Elio de Angelis". ESPN. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- 1 2 Benson, Andrew (21 April 2004). "A death that shocked the world". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
- 1 2 Savill, Richard (26 June 2000). "Brother of earl dies in Goodwood hill climb". The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 19 August 2012.
- ↑ "Fritz Glatz". GrandPrix.com. 19 July 2002. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
- 1 2 "Most: Qualifying report". Motorsport.com. 17 July 2002. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
- 1 2 "Historic racer Denis Welch dies in Silverstone Classic accident". Autosport. 28 July 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
- ↑ "United States Grand Prix history". Formula 1. 16 June 2004. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
- ↑ "Ronnie Peterson". ESPN. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ↑ "50 years ago today: F1's worst tragedy at Monza". f1fanatic. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
External links