2024-05-01 22:58:35
To this day he is considered one of the best racing drivers of all time. But his career was tragically shortened: Ayrton Senna died 30 years ago today.
Ayrton Senna appears tense and thoughtful. As if his thoughts were somewhere else. It is May 1, 1994 in Imola. Senna is on pole position for the San Marino Grand Prix. Michael Schumacher places his Benetton Renault next to the Brazilian’s Williams. Two World Cup rivals on the front row. Nothing unusual. But this Sunday nothing is as usual in Emilia Romagna.
Death and tragedy have already hit the weekend with full force. But it gets even worse. What happened in Imola three decades ago even brought Michael Schumacher to the brink of retirement after less than three Formula 1 years.
In the Tamburello corner, Senna raced his car almost straight ahead. Schumacher had to watch as the Williams, the great idol of the time, hit the wall and was thrown back.
The black weekend of Imola
Despite braking hard, Senna was still traveling at a speed of 214 km/h when his car crashed into the barrier. The cause of the accident was never properly determined. A broken front wheel hit the Brazilian badly and he died of his head injuries.
That was 30 years ago today. Tuesday marked the 30th anniversary of the death of Roland Ratzenberger, who lost his life on the racetrack in Imola at the age of just 33. Rubens Barrichello was also involved in a serious accident during this horrific weekend, but escaped without any serious injuries apart from a broken nose. As if all that wasn’t enough, nine spectators were injured by flying debris following a collision at the start.
“As if Jesus had been nailed to the cross live”
“As if Jesus had been nailed to the cross live,” the then Formula 1 managing director Bernie Ecclestone once said about Senna’s accident. He was only 34 years old, a three-time world champion, but above all he was already an icon and a national hero back then. His home country declared national mourning.
Michael Schumacher told the SZ magazine in 2006 that he had dealt very intensively with the deaths of Ratzenberger and Senna. He asked himself what Formula 1 and racing could mean to him. “That’s also why I didn’t go to Ayrton’s funeral, but to test it. I had to know whether I could continue driving, whether I was still enjoying the whole thing. Plus, I didn’t want to mourn publicly; everyone would have just been waiting for my tears.” Schumacher cried the tears six years later: When he won the Italian Grand Prix in 2000, equaling his idol’s 41 victories, he burst into tears at the post-race press conference.
Safety standards significantly improved
Brother Ralf was on his way to Formula 1 when it happened. He didn’t have any doubts, he now remembers the terrible weekend in Imola in a dpa interview. It seemed somehow surreal, unimaginable. “It was incredibly bad that something like that happened. It showed back then that there was still a lot to be done in terms of security,” he says.
Also because brother Michael got involved and was supported by the then World Automobile Association President Max Mosley and Ecclestone, Formula 1 significantly increased safety standards. “For those, like me, who then entered Formula 1, the subsequent improvements meant great luck,” said Schumacher.
Security measures work
In fact, numerous security measures were introduced as a result. The cockpits were raised so that the drivers’ shoulders no longer looked out. In addition, the so-called Hans system (stands for Head and Neck Support) was introduced, which is attached to the helmet and is intended to protect against serious head and neck injuries in the event of an accident. In 2018, the so-called halo was also attached to the cars. This is a type of metal bar above the cockpit that is intended to protect drivers from flying parts, including tires.