It was a sad day that nobody ever would forget. The Williams of Aryton Senna smashed into the wall, killing the Brazilian and three time world champion, just one day following another fatal accident of Austrian Roland Ratzenberger. The sport lost not just one but two drivers, and after the San Marino Grand Prix, which was held at the Imola circuit, May 1st of 1994 was a dark day in formula one racing, and the sport would make certain that another accident of this kind would never happen again.
Helmets were changed as well as the inside of the driver’s area. It would be more crash resistant and would make the drivers escape in case of severe accidents. The seat was used in case of the driver who could not get out of the car, a chance for medical personal to have a seat so the driver could be moved out of the car to prevent further injuries. All this and some other ideas would make this sport safe again.
Since then, other formulas have had major and fatal accidents at some sort, but not formula one.
Move on to October, 2014, when the Japanese Grand Prix was run at the famous Suzuka circuit near Nagoya. The race was nearing the end when a heavy storm took place while the cars were still racing. Heavy water was all over the track and drivers could barely see. Just before the race finished under a safety car, German Adrian Sutil spun his Sauber near the last corner of the track and was unhurt. The track Marshalls in charge used a heavy crane to remove the car but just before this finished, Frenchman Jules Bianchi got out of control and slammed into the crane with his Marussia entry. Bianchi suffered severe head injuries and was treated at the local hospital where he went into a coma.
Many months later, Bianchi who still was in the same condition, was moved to a hospital in his home town of Nice, France where after hopes of recovering were dashed this past Friday evening, as the Frenchman died of his injuries, the first since Senna’s 21 years before.
It will go to show that even after all this time and no fatalities in this form of motor racing, it will realize that the sport, no matter how safe the equipment is to protect the driver, is still dangerous to do. But this is something that the drivers have accepted and if they do not, then they should not be doing it. It is the thrill of the adrenaline, and knowing that you went that quick, and the feeling that comes from it. Whether drivers who are in all other forms of motorsport have actually done this or others like myself who have gone to drivers schools and experienced the driving at 114 miles per hour or more in a formula one car, the thought of danger does not occur, it just comes back to reality when someone like Bianchi has it happen to them.
Like Bianchi, who was tipped to be a future Ferrari driver, talent like this is lost, just because of an unfortunate accident. And to many before him who have suffered the same fate, they will always be champions.
Merci Jules, merci pour un grand champion et pour votre participation a formula un. Vous etes un grand champion et pour votre nation, un bien representative pour France.
And life continues on.