Motorsport in general is one of the most riskiest sport in the world. As with all Motorsports, F1 has witnessed fatal accidents since its inception in 1950. On June 18, 1952, Cameron Earl was a victim of the first ever fatal accident while testing a Formula 1 car for English Racing Automobiles team. Cameron Earl suffered skull fractures as the car overturned and he died at the age of 29.
Formula 1 cars are among the fastest cars on planet. They reach speeds more than 290 kmph and the drivers sustain forces of 5-6 gs, during braking and cornering. The FIA has introduced various safety precautions for Formula 1 driver. The latest addition is the Halo- which is a ring like structure around the cockpit, protecting the driver's head. It has saved many drivers in the past. The latest incident happened with Zhou Guanyu where his car skid along the track upside down and crashed. Guanyu however, was protected from the crash due to the presence of Halo.
The death of Jules Bianchi was the first driver fatality in Formula 1 since that of Ayrton Senna on May 1, 1994 when the Brazilian legend's Williams crashed into a wall at the San Marino Grand Prix. Jules Bianchi died on 17 July 2015, nine months after the crash, Bianchi was in a coma as a result of crashing his Marussia F1 car into a recovery vehicle at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix, and suffering a diffuse axonal injury, he was just 25.
Bianchi's accident was very similar to that of María de Villota's testing crash in 2012. Although the deaths of these Formula 1 drivers were tragic events, they helped the sport to develop many of the modern safety devices and regulations that are used in F1 today.
In 2014, Formula One celebrated the 20th fatality-free season, up until Bianchi's accident in Japan. The 2000's remains the only decade to date in which no driver was killed.
Also Read: 5 of Formula 1's greatest lost talents
Driver | Date Of Accident | Event | Car | Session |
Martin Brain | May 25, 1970 | Nottingham Sportscar Club Meeting | Cooper | Race |
Ricardo Rodríguez | November 1, 1962 | 1962 Mexican Grand Prix | Lotus | Practice |
Chris Bristow | June 19, 1960 | 1960 Belgian Grand Prix | Cooper | Race |
Riccardo Paletti | June 13, 1982 | 1982 Canadian Grand Prix | Osella | Race |
Shane Summers | June 1, 1961 | 1961 Silver City Trophy | Cooper | Practice |
Gary Hocking | December 21, 1962 | 1962 Natal Grand Prix | Lotus | Practice |
Roger Williamson | July 29, 1973 | 1973 Dutch Grand Prix | March | Race |
Helmuth Koinigg | October 6, 1974 | 1974 United States Grand Prix | Surtees | Race |
Peter Collins | August 3, 1958 | 1958 German Grand Prix | Ferrari | Race |
Charles de Tornaco | September 18, 1953 | 1953 Modena Grand Prix | Ferrari | Practice |
Jerry Unser Jr. | May 17, 1959 | 1959 Indianapolis 500 | Kurtis Kraft | Pre-race test |
Alan Stacey | June 19, 1960 | 1960 Belgian Grand Prix | Lotus | Race |
Mario Alborghetti | April 11, 1955 | 1955 Pau Grand Prix | Maserati | Race |
Eugenio Castellotti | March 14, 1957 | - | Ferrari | Test |
Tom Pryce | March 5, 1977 | 1977 South African Grand Prix | Shadow | Race |
Piers Courage | June 7, 1970 | 1970 Dutch Grand Prix | De Tomaso | Race |
Stuart Lewis-Evans | September 19, 1958 | 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix | Vanwall | Race |
Jochen Rindt | September 5, 1970 | 1970 Italian Grand Prix | Lotus | Qualifying |
Elio de Angelis | May 15, 1986 | - | Brabham | Test |
Cameron Earl | June 18, 1952 | - | ERA | Test |
François Cevert | October 6, 1973 | 1973 United States Grand Prix | Tyrrell | Qualifying |
Pat O'Connor | May 30, 1958 | 1958 Indianapolis 500 | Kurtis Kraft | Race |
Onofre Marimón | July 31, 1954 | 1954 German Grand Prix | Maserati | Practice |
Carel Godin de Beaufort | August 2, 1964 | 1964 German Grand Prix | Porsche | Practice |
Brian McGuire | August 29, 1977 | 1977 Shellsport Championship | McGuire | Practice |
Lorenzo Bandini | May 7, 1967 | 1967 Monaco Grand Prix | Ferrari | Race |
Gilles Villeneuve | May 8, 1982 | 1982 Belgian Grand Prix | Ferrari | Qualifying |
Bob Cortner | May 19, 1959 | 1959 Indianapolis 500 | Cornis | Pre-race test |
John Taylor | August 7, 1966 | 1966 German Grand Prix | Brabham | Race |
Gerhard Mitter | August 2, 1969 | 1969 German Grand Prix | BMW | Practice |
Wolfgang von Trips | September 10, 1961 | 1961 Italian Grand Prix | Ferrari | Race |
Roland Ratzenberger | April 30, 1994 | 1994 San Marino Grand Prix | Simtek | Qualifying |
Maria de Villota | July 3, 2012 | - | Marussia | Test |
Manny Ayulo | May 16, 1955 | 1955 Indianapolis 500 | Kuzma | Practice |
Luigi Musso | July 6, 1958 | 1958 French Grand Prix | Ferrari | Race |
Ronnie Peterson | September 10, 1978 | 1978 Italian Grand Prix | Lotus | Race |
Ayrton Senna | May 1, 1994 | 1994 San Marino Grand Prix | Williams | Race |
Jo Siffert | October 24, 1971 | 1971 World Championship Victory Race | BRM | Race |
Patrick Depailler | August 1, 1980 | - | Alfa Romeo | Test |
Peter Revson | March 22, 1974 | 1974 South African Grand Prix | Shadow | Pre-race test |
Bob Anderson | August 14, 1967 | - | Brabham | Test |
Bill Vukovich | May 30, 1955 | 1955 Indianapolis 500 | Kurtis Kraft | Race |
Keith Andrews | May 15, 1957 | 1957 Indianapolis 500 | Kurtis Kraft | Practice |
Harry Schell | May 13, 1960 | 1960 BRDC International Trophy | Cooper | Practice |
Mark Donohue | August 19, 1975 | 1975 Austrian Grand Prix | Penske | Practice |
Giulio Cabianca | June 15, 1961 | - | Cooper | Test |
Jo Schlesser | July 7, 1968 | 1968 French Grand Prix | Honda | Race |
Chet Miller | May 15, 1953 | 1953 Indianapolis 500 | Kurtis Kraft | Practice |
Fritz Glatz | July 14, 2002 | 2002 EuroBOSS Series Season | Footwork | Race |
John Dawson-Damer | June 24, 2000 | 2000 Goodwood Festival of Speed | Lotus | Demonstration |
Jules Bianchi | October 5, 2014 | Japanese Grand Prix | Marussia MR03 | Race |
David Ferrer | September 2, 2017 | Historic Grand Prix | March 701 | Race |
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FAQs
There have been a total of 52 race related fatalities in Formula 1.
Senna's crash jerked his head backward leading to skull fractures, which caused his death.
Fernando Alonso is the oldest Formula 1 driver as of 2024.