List of fatally injured Formula 1 drivers

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The risk of serious accidents is inextricably linked with Formula 1 . However, their consequences have changed drastically since the so-called “royal class” was founded in 1950. Fatal accidents were common until the 1970s . They were mourned, but also accepted as an inevitable risk. But the ever faster Formula 1 cars prompted the drivers to protests. They no longer wanted to be the game balls of the organizers and teams and were committed to more safety. For many years, increasingly stringent safety regulations for vehicles and routes have prevented the serious consequences of accidents.

Since 1994, Formula 1 drivers have only died from the long-term consequences of collisions caused by particularly unfavorable circumstances. María de Villota bumped into the back of a truck during low-speed test drives in 2012, suffered a fractured skull and lost an eye, and died unexpectedly a year later. At the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix, Jules Bianchi drove into a wheel loader that was hiding another vehicle involved in an accident and succumbed to a traumatic brain injury in 2015.

The lists of fatally injured Formula 1 drivers below provide an overview of their accidents. However, only accidents that occurred during official Grand Prix weekends, during test drives or in other motorsport series are taken into account. Drivers who died as a result of other accidents are not listed (for example, former world champion and team boss Graham Hill and his driver Tony Brise died in a plane crash in 1975 after test drives).

Drivers fatally injured in Formula 1 races and training

This section lists the drivers who had an immediate fatal accident in a Formula 1 race and training session or who died as a result of this accident in the following 30 days. The “30-day period” is based on the stipulations for the statistical recording of road deaths in the member states of the European Union and the FIA .

Participants who died later are listed in the section " #drivers who died from the long-term effects ".

country driver date Vehicle / team Details
BelgiumBelgium Charles de Tornaco September 18, 1953 Ferrari ( Ecurie Francorchamps ) Gran Premio di Modena (training; the race was not part of the World Cup )
ArgentinaArgentina Onofre Marimón July 31, 1954 Maserati Grand Prix of Germany / Nürburgring (training)
ItalyItaly Mario Alborghetti April 11, 1955 Maserati Grand Prix Automobile de Pau ( race was not part of the World Championship )
ItalyItaly Luigi Musso 0July 6, 1958 Ferrari French Grand Prix / Reims (race)
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Peter Collins 03rd August 1958 Ferrari Grand Prix of Germany / Nürburgring (race)
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Stuart Lewis-Evans October 25, 1958 Vanwall Grand Prix of Morocco / Casablanca (race) - 6 days later (burns)
United States 49United States Harry Schell May 13, 1960 Ecurie Bleue BRDC International Trophy , Silverstone (training; race was not part of the World Championship )
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Chris Bristow June 19, 1960 Cooper - Climax Belgian Grand Prix / Spa-Francorchamps (race)
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Alan Stacey June 19, 1960 Lotus - Climax Belgian Grand Prix / Spa-Francorchamps (race)
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Shane Summers 0June 1, 1961 Cooper - Climax Silver City Trophy / Brands Hatch (training; race was not part of the World Championship )
Germany Federal RepublicFederal Republic of Germany Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips September 10, 1961 Ferrari Grand Prix of Italy / Monza (race) ; posthumously vice world champion
Mexico 1934Mexico Ricardo Rodríguez 0November 1, 1962 Lotus - Climax ( Rob Walker Racing Team ) Mexico / Mexico City (training; race was not part of the World Cup )
Rhodesia and NyasalandFederation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Gary Hocking December 21, 1962 Lotus - Climax ( Rob Walker Racing Team ) Natal Grand Prix / South Africa (training; race was not part of the World Cup )
NetherlandsNetherlands Carel Godin de Beaufort 02nd August 1964 Porsche Grand Prix of Germany / Nürburgring (training)
ItalyItaly Lorenzo Bandini May 10, 1967 Ferrari Monaco / Monte Carlo Grand Prix (race) - 3 days later (burns)
FranceFrance Jo Schlesser 07th July 1968 Honda French Grand Prix / Rouen (race)
Germany Federal RepublicFederal Republic of Germany Gerhard Mitter 01st August 1969 BMW (F2) Grand Prix of Germany / Nürburgring (training)
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Piers Courage June 21, 1970 De Tomaso - Ford for Frank Williams Racing Cars Dutch Grand Prix / Zandvoort (race)
AustriaAustria Jochen Rindt 05th September 1970 Lotus - Ford Grand Prix of Italy / Monza (training); posthumously world champion
SwitzerlandSwitzerland Jo Siffert October 24, 1971 BRM England / Brands Hatch - "World Championship Race" (race; race was not part of the World Cup )
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Roger Williamson July 29, 1973 March - Ford Dutch Grand Prix / Zandvoort (race)
FranceFrance François Cevert 0October 6, 1973 Tyrrell - Ford US Grand Prix / Watkins Glen (Training)
AustriaAustria Helmut Koinigg 0October 6, 1974 Surtees - Ford US Grand Prix / Watkins Glen (Race)
United StatesUnited States Mark Donohue 19th August 1975 March - Ford Grand Prix of Austria / Spielberg (Warm Up) - 2 days later (brain thrombus )
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Tom Pryce 0March 5th 1977 Shadow - Ford South African Grand Prix / Kyalami (race)
SwedenSweden Ronnie Peterson September 11, 1978 Lotus - Ford Italian Grand Prix / Monza (race) - 1 day later ( embolism ); posthumously vice world champion
CanadaCanada Gilles Villeneuve 0May 8, 1982 Ferrari Belgian Grand Prix / Zolder (training)
ItalyItaly Riccardo Paletti June 13, 1982 Osella - Ford Canadian Grand Prix / Montréal (Race)
AustriaAustria Roland Ratzenberger April 30, 1994 Simtek - Ford San Marino / Imola Grand Prix (qualifying)
BrazilBrazil Ayrton Senna 0May 1, 1994 Williams - Renault San Marino / Imola Grand Prix (race)

Drivers who died from the long-term effects

This section lists the drivers who died after more than 30 days as a result of an accident in Formula 1 races or training. The “30-day period” is based on the stipulations for the statistical recording of road deaths in the member states of the European Union and the FIA .

country driver date Vehicle / team Details
United KingdomUnited Kingdom John Taylor 0September 8, 1966 Brabham - BRM Grand Prix of Germany / Nürburgring (race) - 4½ weeks later ( burn infection )
FranceFrance Jules Bianchi 17th July 2015 Marussia - Ferrari Japanese Grand Prix / Suzuka (race) - 9 months later (consequences of traumatic brain injury )

Drivers fatally injured in Formula 1 test drives

country driver date Vehicle / team Details
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Cameron C. Earl June 18, 1952 ERA (MIRA) Test drives in Nuneaton (GB)
ItalyItaly Eugenio Castellotti March 14, 1957 Ferrari Test drives in Modena (I)
ItalyItaly Giulio Cabianca June 15, 1961 Cooper ( Scuderia Castellotti ) Test drives in Modena (I)
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Bob Anderson August 14, 1967 Brabham - Climax (DW Racing Enterprises) Test drives in Silverstone (GB)
United StatesUnited States Peter Revson March 22, 1974 Shadow - Ford Test drives in Kyalami (ZA)
AustraliaAustralia Brian McGuire August 29, 1977 McGuire Test drives at Brands Hatch (GB)
FranceFrance Patrick Depailler 0August 1, 1980 Alfa Romeo Test drives in Hockenheim (D)
ItalyItaly Elio de Angelis May 15, 1986 Brabham BMW Turbo Test drives in Le Castellet (F) on May 14, 1986
SpainSpain Maria de Villota October 11, 2013 Marussia Test drives at Duxford (GB) on July 3, 2012 - long-term consequences of the accident ( skull fracture )

Formula 1 drivers who died in other motorsport races or during test drives

country driver date Details
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Joe Fry July 29, 1950 Hill climb at Blandford Military Camp in Dorset
FranceFrance Raymond Summers September 10, 1950 Race in Cadours, South of France
United States 48United States Cecil Green July 29, 1951 AAA races at Winchester Speedway, USA
ItalyItaly Luigi Fagioli June 20, 1952 Sports car racing in Monte Carlo, training - died three weeks later
ItalyItaly Felice Bonetto November 21, 1953 Carrera Panamericana in Silao / Mexico
FranceFrance Guy Mairesse April 24, 1954 Montlhéry / France
ItalyItaly Alberto Ascari May 26, 1955 Private sports car test drive in Monza
FranceFrance Pierre Levegh June 11, 1955 Le Mans 24 hour race
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Don Beauman 0September 7, 1955 Sports car race in Wicklow / Ireland
FranceFrance Louis Rosier October 29, 1956 Race Coup de Salon in Paris
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ken Wharton January 12, 1957 Sports car race in Ardmore / New Zealand
Spain 1945Spain Alfonso de Portago May 12, 1957 Mille Miglia of Brescia
ItalyItaly Piero Carini May 30, 1957 Sports car race near St. Etienne
United StatesUnited States Herbert MacKay-Fraser July 14, 1957 Coupe de Vitesse , F2 race in Reims
United KingdomUnited Kingdom William Whitehouse July 14, 1957 Formula 2 GP of Reims
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Archie Scott-Brown May 19, 1958 Sports car race in Spa-Francorchamps
Germany Federal RepublicFederal Republic of Germany Erwin Bauer 0June 2, 1958 1000 km race on the Nürburgring
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Peter Whitehead September 21, 1958 Tour de France for automobiles
FranceFrance Jean Behra 0August 1, 1959 Sports car race Berlin-AVUS
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ivor Bueb 0August 1, 1959 Auvergne Trophy in Clermont-Ferrand
United States 48United States Harry Blanchard January 31, 1960 1000 km race in Buenos Aires
Venezuela 1954Venezuela Ettore Chimeri February 27, 1960 Grand Prix for Sports Cars in Cuba
Canada 1957Canada Peter Ryan 0July 2nd, 1962 Coupe de Vitesse des Juniors in Reims
United StatesUnited States Tim Mayer February 28, 1964 Tasman Series / Australia / Longford
United StatesUnited States Walt Hansgen 0April 7, 1966 Test drives for the Le Mans 24 hour race
ItalyItaly Giacomo Russo June 18, 1967 Formula 3 racing in Caserta , Italy
BelgiumBelgium Georges Berger 23rd August 1967 Marathon de la Route on the Nürburgring
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ian Raby 0November 7, 1967 Formula 2 European Championship run in Zandvoort
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jim Clark 0April 7, 1968 Formula 2 European Championship run in Hockenheim
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Mike Spence 0May 7, 1968 500 miles from Indianapolis, workout
ItalyItaly Ludovico Scarfiotti 0June 8, 1968 Mountain EM run in Rossfeld near Berchtesgaden
BelgiumBelgium Lucien Bianchi March 30, 1969 Le Mans 24-hour race, preliminary training
AustraliaAustralia Paul Hawkins May 26, 1969 Tourist Trophy race at Oulton Park
MexicoMexico Moisés Solana July 27, 1969 Hill climb from Valle de Bravo-Bosencheve in Mexico
New ZealandNew Zealand Bruce McLaren 02nd June 1970 CanAm test drives at Goodwood
ItalyItaly Ignazio Giunti January 10, 1971 1000 km race in Buenos Aires
MexicoMexico Pedro Rodríguez July 11, 1971 Interseries races at the Norisring
SwedenSweden Joakim Bonnier June 11, 1972 Le Mans 24 hour race
ArgentinaArgentina Nasif Estéfano October 21, 1973 Endurance racing in Aimogasta
SwitzerlandSwitzerland Silvio Moser May 26, 1974 1000 km race from Monza
SwitzerlandSwitzerland Herbert Mueller May 24, 1981 1000 km race on the Nürburgring
Germany Federal RepublicFederal Republic of Germany Rolf Stommelen April 24, 1983 Sports car race in Riverside / USA
Germany Federal RepublicFederal Republic of Germany Manfred Winkelhock August 12, 1985 Sports car world championship, 1000 km from Mosport / Canada
Germany Federal RepublicFederal Republic of Germany Stefan Bellof 0September 1, 1985 Sports car world championship, 1000 km race from Spa-Francorchamps
AustriaAustria Jo Gartner 0June 1, 1986 Le Mans 24 hour race
FranceFrance Didier Pironi 23rd August 1987 Powerboat accident on the Isle of Wight / England
New ZealandNew Zealand Denis Hulme 04th October 1992 Heart attack during a touring car race on the Mount Panorama Circuit
ItalyItaly Michele Alboreto April 25, 2001 Sports car test drives at the Lausitzring in the Audi R8 LM
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Justin Wilson August 24, 2015 Run the IndyCar Series on the Pocono Raceway
United States 48United States Chet Miller a May 15, 1953 500 miles from Indianapolis, workout
United States 48United States Carl Scarborough a May 30, 1953 500 miles from Indianapolis, race
United States 48United States Manuel Ayulo a May 16, 1955 500 miles from Indianapolis, workout
United States 48United States Bill Vukovich a May 30, 1955 500 miles from Indianapolis
United States 48United States Keith Andrews a May 15, 1957 500 miles from Indianapolis, workout
United States 48United States Pat O'Connor a May 30, 1958 500 miles from Indianapolis
United States 48United States Jerry Our a 17th May 1959 500 miles from Indianapolis, workout
United States 48United States Bob Cortner a May 19, 1959 500 miles from Indianapolis, workout
United StatesUnited States Tony Bettenhausen a May 12, 1961 500 miles from Indianapolis, workout
United StatesUnited States Eddie Sachs a May 30, 1964 500 miles from Indianapolis
aThese drivers only took part in the Formula 1 World Championship as part of the Indy 500 , which was the official championship race of the F1 World Championship from 1950 to 1960. But you are generally not seen as a Formula 1 driver.

Fatally injured Formula 1 drivers who were former or reigning world champions or who led the F1 World Championship in the accident

country driver date vehicle accident World Cup successes or World Cup situation
ItalyItaly Alberto Ascari May 26, 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Private sports car test drive in Monza two-time automobile world champion (1952, 1953, both world championships announced according to Formula 2 regulations)
Germany Federal RepublicFederal Republic of Germany Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips September 10, 1961 Ferrari Italian Grand Prix / Monza (race) died as leader of the F1 World Championship; was displaced from 1st place by only one point at the end of the unlucky race of Phil Hill
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jim Clark 0April 7, 1968 Lotus 48 Formula 2 European Championship run in Hockenheim two-time Formula 1 world champion (1963, 1965)
AustriaAustria Jochen Rindt 05th September 1970 Lotus - Ford Italian Grand Prix / Monza (Training) died as F1 world championship leader and was posthumously world champion at the end of the season with a remaining five point lead over Jacky Ickx
Germany Federal RepublicFederal Republic of Germany Stefan Bellof b 0September 1, 1985 Porsche 956 Sports car world championship, 1000 km race from Spa-Francorchamps died as the reigning sports car world champion (1984 in a Porsche)
New ZealandNew Zealand Denis Hulme 04th October 1992 BMW M3 Heart attack during a touring car race
on the Mount Panorama Circuit
former Formula 1 world champion (1967)
BrazilBrazil Ayrton Senna 0May 1, 1994 Williams - Renault San Marino / Imola Grand Prix (race) three-time Formula 1 world champion (1988, 1990, 1991)
b This driver was never a Formula 1 world champion, but at the time of the accident he was reigning world champion at an FIA World Championship and under contract with a Formula 1 racing team.

Number of fatally injured F1 drivers by nationality

rank country number
F1 racing F1 tests Other total
01 United KingdomUnited Kingdom United Kingdom 9 2 7th 18th
02 ItalyItaly Italy 4th 3 7th 14th
03 FranceFrance France 3 1 5 9
04th United StatesUnited States United States 2 1 5 08 a
05 Germany Federal RepublicFederal Republic of Germany BR Germany 2 - 4th 6th
06th AustriaAustria Austria 3 - 1 4th
07th BelgiumBelgium Belgium - 1 2 3
SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland 1 - 2
09 MexicoMexico Mexico 1 - 1 2
SwedenSweden Sweden 1 - 1
AustraliaAustralia Australia - 1 1
New ZealandNew Zealand New Zealand - - 2
13 ArgentinaArgentina Argentina 1 - - 1
BrazilBrazil Brazil 1 - -
CanadaCanada Canada 1 - -
NetherlandsNetherlands Netherlands 1 - -
Rhodesia and NyasalandFederation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland 1 - -
SpainSpain Spain - - 1
VenezuelaVenezuela Venezuela - - 1
aPilots who died on the Indy 500 between 1950 and 1960 are not counted.

Tracks on which drivers had fatal accidents in official Formula 1 races

Five F1 drivers lost their lives during or after accidents on the old Nordschleife of the Nürburgring
Three drivers died in F1 races in Monza, Italy
At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the USA, most fatal accidents occurred
rank route country Accidents
total First Last
1 North loop Germany Federal RepublicFederal Republic of Germany BR Germany 5 1954 1969
2 Monza ItalyItaly Italy 3 1961 1978
3 Brands Hatch United KingdomUnited Kingdom United Kingdom 2 1961 1971
Spa Francorchamps BelgiumBelgium Belgium 1960 1960
Zandvoort NetherlandsNetherlands Netherlands 1970 1973
Watkins Glen United StatesUnited States United States 1973 1974
Imola ItalyItaly Italy 1994 1994
8th Pau FranceFrance France 1 1954
Reims FranceFrance France 1958
Ain-Diab MoroccoMorocco Morocco 1958
Mexico city MexicoMexico Mexico 1962
natal South Africa 1961South Africa South Africa 1962
Monte Carlo MonacoMonaco Monaco 1967
Rouen FranceFrance France 1968
Spielberg AustriaAustria Austria 1975
Kyalami South Africa 1961South Africa South Africa 1977
Zolder BelgiumBelgium Belgium 1982
Montréal CanadaCanada Canada 1982
Suzuka JapanJapan Japan 2014
Indianapolis United States 48United States United States 18 a 1953 1959
aThe Indy 500 officially belonged to the Formula 1 World Championship from 1950 to 1960, i. H. F1 vehicles were also allowed. The drivers who crashed there, however, did not die in F1 cars. In addition, the Indy 500 was not considered a classic Formula 1 race, despite its temporary membership in the F1 World Championship, as it is a race on an oval course .

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. a b Persons involved and accident victims - Fatalities in road accidents , website of the Federal Statistical Office (Germany), accessed on 23 August 2015.
  2. a b Traffic accidents ( memento from August 20, 2015 in the Internet Archive ), website of the Federal Statistical Office (Switzerland), accessed on August 23, 2015.
  3. a b Traffic accident statistics 2007 ( memento from March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ), information from Statistics Austria , accessed on August 23, 2015.
  4. a b FIA accident database - The Bianchi accident and its consequences , auto-motor-sport.de from July 21, 2015, accessed on August 23, 2015.
This version was added to the selection of informative lists and portals on January 28, 2008 .