List of Formula One fatalities

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Jules Bianchi is the most recent driver to have been fatally injured during a World Championship Grand Prix. He died in July 2015, nine months after sustaining severe head injuries during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.
Three-time world champion Ayrton Senna suffered a fatal crash at Imola in 1994.

Formula One (F1) is the highest class of open-wheeled auto racing defined by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), motorsport's world governing body.[1] The "formula" in the name refers to a set of rules to which all participants and vehicles must conform.[2] The F1 World Championship season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix, held usually on purpose-built circuits, and in a few cases on closed city streets.[3] The results of each race are combined to determine two annual Championships, one for drivers and one for constructors.[4]

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.[5] It was not until the 1960s these were first introduced, as helmets and overalls became mandatory and the FIA assumed responsibility for safety at the circuits.[5] Steps were taken to improve the safety of the Formula One car in the 1970s; the cockpit opening was enlarged allowing the driver to escape more quickly in the event of an accident and outside mirrors became mandatory.[6] The 1980s saw further improvement in the structure of the Formula One car, with the monocoque being made out of carbon fibre instead of aluminium, increasing protection upon impact.[7] Following the death of Ayrton Senna in 1994, a number of measures were introduced in an attempt to slow the cars down, including bodywork aerodynamic limitations, a pit lane speed limit and temporary circuit modifications such as extra chicanes. Grooved tyres were introduced in 1998 instead of racing slick tyres to reduce cornering speed.[8] Safety measures continued to be introduced into the 21st century, with a number of circuits having their configuration changed to improve driver safety.[9]

This list includes drivers who have died during a FIA World Championship event (including practice, qualifying and the race), and those who have died while driving modern or vintage Formula One cars outside 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-two drivers have died from incidents that occurred at a FIA World Championship event or while driving a Formula One car at another event, with Cameron Earl being the first in 1952. Thirty-two of the drivers died from incidents during Grand Prix race weekends which formed part of the World Championship, seven 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 Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna at Imola on consecutive days in 1994, no driver died 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.[10] Three drivers died in the intervening years while driving former Formula One cars (two from the 1960s, one from the 1990s) in vintage racing and other events not associated with World Championship Grands Prix.[11][12][13] Two Formula One Champions have died while racing or practising in Formula One, Jochen Rindt in 1970, and Senna in 1994. Rindt is the only driver to have won the championship posthumously.[14]

Fatalities[]

Race or test that was not part of Formula One World Championship Indicates a race that was not a Formula One World Championship event
Test drive that was not part of any racing event. Indicates test drive that was not part of any racing event.


Fatalities by driver
Driver Date of accident Event Circuit Car Session Ref(s).
 Cameron Earl (UK) June 18, 1952 TestTest drive that was not part of any racing event. MIRA ERA Test [15]
 Chet Miller (USA) May 15, 1953 Indianapolis 500[note 1] Indianapolis Motor Speedway Kurtis Kraft Practice [17]
 Charles de Tornaco (BEL) September 18, 1953 Race was not part of Formula One World Championship Autodromo di Modena Ferrari Tipo 500 Practice [18]
 Onofre Marimón (ARG) July 31, 1954 German Grand Prix Nürburgring Maserati 250F Practice [17]
 Mario Alborghetti (ITA) April 11, 1955 Pau Grand PrixRace was not part of Formula One World Championship Circuit de Pau-Ville Maserati 4CLT Race [19]
 Manny Ayulo (USA)[note 2] May 16, 1955 Indianapolis 500[note 1] Indianapolis Motor Speedway Kurtis Kraft Practice [17]
 Bill Vukovich (USA) May 30, 1955 Race
 Eugenio Castellotti (ITA) March 14, 1957 TestTest drive that was not part of any racing event. Autodromo di Modena Ferrari 801 Test [21]
 Keith Andrews (USA) May 15, 1957 Indianapolis 500[note 1] Indianapolis Motor Speedway Kurtis Kraft Practice [17]
 Pat O'Connor (USA) May 30, 1958 Indianapolis 500[note 1] Indianapolis Motor Speedway Kurtis Kraft Race [17]
 Luigi Musso (ITA) July 6, 1958 French Grand Prix Circuit de Reims-Gueux Ferrari 246 F1 Race [17]
 Peter Collins (UK) August 3, 1958 German Grand Prix Nürburgring Ferrari 246 F1 Race [22]
 Stuart Lewis-Evans (UK)[note 3] October 19, 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix Circuit d'Ain-Diab Vanwall Race [17]
 Jerry Unser Jr. (USA)[note 4] May 2, 1959 Indianapolis 500[note 1] Indianapolis Motor Speedway Kuzma Practice [17]
 Bob Cortner (USA) May 19, 1959 Cornis
 Harry Schell (USA) May 13, 1960 BRDC International TrophyRace was not part of Formula One World Championship Silverstone Circuit Cooper T51 Practice [17]
 Chris Bristow (UK) June 19, 1960 Belgian Grand Prix[note 5] Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Cooper T51 Race [17]
 Alan Stacey (UK) Lotus 18
 Shane Summers (UK) June 1, 1961 Silver City TrophyRace was not part of Formula One World Championship Brands Hatch Cooper Practice [23]
 Giulio Cabianca (ITA)[note 6] June 15, 1961 TestTest drive that was not part of any racing event. Autodromo di Modena Cooper T51 Test [24]
 Wolfgang von Trips (GER)[note 7] September 10, 1961 Italian Grand Prix Autodromo Nazionale di Monza Ferrari 156 F1 Race [26]
 Ricardo Rodríguez (MEX) November 1, 1962 Mexican Grand Prixdagger Autódromo Magdalena Mixiuhca Lotus 24 Practice [27]
 Gary Hocking (FRN) December 21, 1962 Natal Grand PrixRace was not part of Formula One World Championship Lotus 24 Practice [17]
 Carel Godin de Beaufort (NED)[note 8] August 1, 1964 German Grand Prix Nürburgring Porsche 718 Practice [17]
 John Taylor (UK)[note 9] August 7, 1966 German Grand Prix Nürburgring Brabham BT11 Race [29]
 Lorenzo Bandini (ITA)[note 10] May 7, 1967 Monaco Grand Prix Circuit de Monaco Ferrari 312 Race [30]
 Bob Anderson (UK) August 14, 1967 TestTest drive that was not part of any racing event. Silverstone Circuit Brabham BT11 Test [31]
 Jo Schlesser (FRA) July 7, 1968 French Grand Prix Circuit de Rouen-les-Essarts Honda RA302 Race [32]
 Gerhard Mitter (GER) August 1, 1969 German Grand Prix Nürburgring BMW 269 Practice [17]
 Martin Brain (UK) May 25, 1970 Nottingham Sports Car Club meetingRace was not part of Formula One World Championship Silverstone Circuit Cooper T86B Race [33][34]
 Piers Courage (UK) June 21, 1970 Dutch Grand Prix Circuit Park Zandvoort De Tomaso 505/38 Race [35]
 Jochen Rindt (AUT) September 5, 1970 Italian Grand Prix Autodromo Nazionale di Monza Lotus 72 Qualifying [14]
 Jo Siffert (SUI) October 24, 1971 World Championship Victory RaceRace was not part of Formula One World Championship Brands Hatch BRM P160 Race [36]
 Roger Williamson (UK) July 29, 1973 Dutch Grand Prix Circuit Park Zandvoort March 731 Race [17]
 François Cevert (FRA) October 6, 1973 United States Grand Prix Watkins Glen International Tyrrell 006 Qualifying [37]
 Peter Revson (USA) March 22, 1974 South African Grand Prix Kyalami Racing Circuit Shadow DN3 Test [38]
 Helmuth Koinigg (AUT) October 6, 1974 United States Grand Prix Watkins Glen International Surtees TS16 Race [39]
 Mark Donohue (USA)[note 11] August 17, 1975 Austrian Grand Prix Österreichring March 751 Practice [17]
 Tom Pryce (UK)[note 12] March 5, 1977 South African Grand Prix Kyalami Racing Circuit Shadow DN8 Race [41]
 Brian McGuire (AUS)[note 13] August 29, 1977 Shellsport International Series Round 11Race was not part of Formula One World Championship Brands Hatch McGuire BM1 Practice [42]
 Ronnie Peterson (SWE)[note 14] September 10, 1978 Italian Grand Prix Autodromo Nazionale di Monza Lotus 78 Race [44]
 Patrick Depailler (FRA) August 1, 1980 TestTest drive that was not part of any racing event. Hockenheimring Alfa Romeo 179 Test [45]
 Gilles Villeneuve (CAN) May 8, 1982 Belgian Grand Prix Circuit Zolder Ferrari 126C Qualifying [46]
 Riccardo Paletti (ITA) June 13, 1982 Canadian Grand Prix Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Osella FA1C Race [17]
 Elio de Angelis (ITA)[note 15] May 14, 1986 TestTest drive that was not part of any racing event. Circuit Paul Ricard Brabham BT55 Test [48]
 Roland Ratzenberger (AUT) April 30, 1994 San Marino Grand Prix Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari Simtek S941 Qualifying [49]
 Ayrton Senna (BRA) May 1, 1994 Williams FW16 Race
  (UK)[note 16] June 24, 2000 Goodwood Festival of SpeedRace was not part of Formula One World Championship Goodwood Hillclimb Lotus 63 Run [11]
 Fritz Glatz (AUT) July 14, 2002 Czech SuperprixRace was not part of Formula One World Championship Autodrom Most Footwork FA17 Race [12][51]
 Denis Welch (UK) July 27, 2014 Jack Brabham Memorial TrophyRace was not part of Formula One World Championship Silverstone Circuit Lotus 18 Race [13]
 Jules Bianchi (FRA)[note 17] October 5, 2014 Japanese Grand Prix Suzuka International Racing Course Marussia MR03 Race [10]
 David Ferrer (FRA)[note 18] September 2, 2017 Historic Grand PrixRace was not part of Formula One World Championship Circuit Park Zandvoort March 701 Race [52]

By nationality[]

Fatalities by nationality
Nationality Total First Last
 United Kingdom 14 1952 2014
 United States 10 1953 1975
 Italy 7 1955 1986
 France 5 1968 2017
 Austria 4 1970 2002
 Germany 2 1961 1969
 Argentina 1 1954
 Australia 1977
 Belgium 1953
 Brazil 1994
 Canada 1982
 Mexico 1962
 Netherlands 1964
 Rhodesia and Nyasaland 1962
 Sweden 1978
  Switzerland 1971

By circuit[]

Fatalities by circuit
Circuit Total First Last
United States Indianapolis Motor Speedway 7 1953 1959
Germany Nürburgring 5 1954 1969
United Kingdom Silverstone Circuit 4 1960 2014
Italy Autodromo di Modena 3 1953 1961
United Kingdom Brands Hatch 1961 1977
Italy Autodromo Nazionale di Monza 1961 1978
Netherlands Circuit Park Zandvoort 1970 2017
Belgium Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps 2 1960
United States Watkins Glen International 1973 1974
South Africa Kyalami Racing Circuit 1974 1977
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari 1994
United Kingdom MIRA 1 1952
France Circuit de Pau-Ville 1955
France Circuit de Reims-Gueux 1958
Morocco Circuit d'Ain-Diab 1958
Mexico Autódromo Magdalena Mixiuhca 1962
South Africa 1962
Monaco Circuit de Monaco 1967
France Circuit de Rouen-les-Essarts 1968
Austria Österreichring 1975
Germany Hockenheimring 1980
Belgium Circuit Zolder 1982
Canada Circuit Gilles Villeneuve 1982
France Circuit Paul Ricard 1986
United Kingdom Goodwood Hillclimb 2000
Czech Republic Autodrom Most 2002
Japan Suzuka International Racing Course 2014

Notes[]

  1. ^ a b c d e From 1950 to 1960, the Indianapolis 500 was part of the World Drivers' Championship.[16]
  2. ^ Ayulo died on May 17, 1955, the day after his accident.[20]
  3. ^ Lewis-Evans died of burns on October 25, 1958, six days after his accident.[17]
  4. ^ Unser Jr. died of burns on May 17, 1959, fifteen days after his accident.[17]
  5. ^ Bristow and Stacey died in separate accidents.[17]
  6. ^ Unable to slow down his car because of technical failure, Cabianca drove through an open gate onto an adjoining public road where he hit several vehicles. Cabianca was killed along with three other people.[24]
  7. ^ Having collided with Jim Clark, von Trips's car shot up the bank lining the track, hit a wire fence and struck several people gathered behind it while spinning in the air. Von Trips, who was ejected from the car, and fifteen spectators died.[25]
  8. ^ Godin de Beaufort died on August 2, 1964, the day after his accident.[28]
  9. ^ Taylor died of fifty per cent burns on September 8, 1966, thirty-two days after his accident.[29]
  10. ^ Bandini died on May 10, 1967, three days after his accident.[30]
  11. ^ After a tire had blown out, Donohue careened through a number of catch fences and billboards, a support post of which may have struck his helmet. He and Manfred Schaller, a track marshal who had been hit by debris, died on August 19, 1975, two days after the accident.[40]
  12. ^ Pryce and Frederick Jansen van Vuuren, a teenage volunteer safety marshal, were killed after colliding at high speed when Jansen van Vuuren was crossing the track to put out a fire.[41]
  13. ^ Experiencing a mechanical failure on his car, McGuire lost control and crashed into a marshals' post. He was killed along with track marshal John Thorpe.[42]
  14. ^ Peterson died in hospital on September 11, 1978, the day after his accident, as a result of fat embolism.[43]
  15. ^ De Angelis died on May 15, 1986, the day after his accident.[47]
  16. ^ Dawson-Damer crashed into a wooden gantry at the finish line, also killing Andrew Carpenter, a marshal, and seriously wounding another. The 59-year-old driver may have suffered a fatal heart attack before losing control of his car.[50]
  17. ^ Bianchi remained comatose in hospital until he succumbed to his injuries on July 17, 2015, more than nine months after his accident.[10]
  18. ^ Ferrer died on September 7, 2017, five days after his accident.[52]

References[]

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  11. ^ a b Savill, Richard (June 26, 2000). "Brother of Earl dies in Goodwood hill climb". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016.
  12. ^ a b "Grave incident mars Czech Superprix". Motorsport.com. July 16, 2002. Archived from the original on October 21, 2018.
  13. ^ a b "Historic racer Denis Welch dies in Silverstone Classic accident". Autosport. July 28, 2014. Archived from the original on October 21, 2018.
  14. ^ a b Benson, Andrew (March 13, 2012). "Formula 1's greatest drivers. Number 20: Jochen Rindt". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on August 26, 2016.
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  18. ^ "Charles de Tornaco". ESPN UK. Archived from the original on December 25, 2015.
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  26. ^ Williams, Richard (September 5, 2011). "When motor racing really was a matter of life and death". TheGuardian.com. Archived from the original on October 30, 2013.
  27. ^ "Ricardo Rodríguez". ESPN UK. Archived from the original on December 26, 2015.
  28. ^ Diepraam, Mattijs (May 24, 2000). "The last knight of Grand Prix racing". 8W. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016 – via Forix.com/8w.
  29. ^ a b "John Taylor". ESPN UK. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015.
  30. ^ a b "Lorenzo Bandini". ESPN UK. Archived from the original on May 2, 2016.
  31. ^ "Bob Anderson". ESPN UK. Archived from the original on December 25, 2015.
  32. ^ "Schlesser dies in experimental Honda at Rouen". ESPN UK. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018.
  33. ^ "Racing car death". The Times. London. May 26, 1970. p. 2.
  34. ^ "Martin Brain". Motorsport Memorial. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
  35. ^ Edworthy, Sarah (July 19, 2003). "Piers Courage lived life to the full and was tipped for GP greatness". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012.
  36. ^ "Jo Siffert". ESPN UK. Archived from the original on December 24, 2015.
  37. ^ "François Cevert". ESPN UK. Archived from the original on July 15, 2015.
  38. ^ "Peter Revson". ESPN UK. Archived from the original on May 12, 2016.
  39. ^ Katz, Michael (October 7, 1974). "Driver is killed as Fittipaldi wins title at Watkins Glen". The New York Times. p. 45. Archived from the original on July 23, 2018.
  40. ^ "Donohue dies after surgery". Eugene Register-Guard. Associated Press. August 20, 1975. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  41. ^ a b "Plaque to commemorate F1 winner". BBC News Online. June 11, 2009. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012.
  42. ^ a b "News in brief: Brands Hatch crash kills 2". The Times. London. August 30, 1977. p. 1.
  43. ^ "Ronnie Peterson". ESPN UK. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015.
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  45. ^ "Patrick Depailler". ESPN UK. Archived from the original on July 15, 2015.
  46. ^ Benson, Andrew (July 4, 2012). "Formula 1's greatest drivers. Number 12: Gilles Villeneuve". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on August 26, 2016.
  47. ^ "Racer dies of crash injuries". Boca Raton News. May 16, 1986.
  48. ^ "Elio de Angelis". ESPN UK. Archived from the original on July 13, 2015.
  49. ^ Benson, Andrew (April 21, 2004). "A death that shocked the world". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on November 24, 2010.
  50. ^ Harding, Thomas (June 27, 2000). "Driver 'died of heart attack before crash'". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on February 14, 2018.
  51. ^ "Fritz Glatz". Grandprix.com. July 19, 2002. Archived from the original on October 21, 2018.
  52. ^ a b Pye, Marcus; Benyon, Jack (September 7, 2017). "French driver David Ferrer dies after Zandvoort Historic GP crash". Autosport. Archived from the original on October 12, 2018.

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