The question of how many times Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna († 34) would have become world champion in his career is still discussed today not only by fans, but also by drivers and team bosses. For many, the Brazilian is the best driver of all time.
When he died 30 years ago on May 1, 1994 as a result of his accident in Imola (Italy), he was a three-time world champion.
While the question of the number of world championship titles remains open, there is another clear answer: Had Senna had this accident when he drove his blue and white Williams-Renault into the infamous Tamburello corner at 307 km / h Track shot and hit the wall at 220 km/h, survived today? YES!
Ayrton Senna at the Hockenheimring in 1991
Photo: EPA/dpa
Senna’s death changed Formula 1
Gary Hartstein (68), former Formula 1 chief medic, repeatedly explained: “Senna was hit in the head by his tire. That wouldn’t happen with today’s tires secured to Kevlar ropes. Senna’s accident would not have been fatal any more than many other much more serious accidents since then.”
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The death of the Brazilian in Imola, where the Austrian Roland Ratzenberger († 33) died of a broken neck the day before, has led to a rethink in the premier class of motorsport. Instead of always looking for ways to make the cars a tenth faster, safety became the focus. During the season, routes were defused by installing additional chicanes in 27 particularly dangerous corners.
The most important innovation: an accident data recorder. Because those responsible otherwise only had to rely on eyewitness reports (there were only some cameras on the track), a “black box” became mandatory for the 1996 season. The data recorder documents, among other things, the G forces that act on the driver and car. In addition, the cockpit walls were raised higher and the driver’s cell was covered with Zylon, the material from which bulletproof vests are made. The same applies to the drivers’ helmets.
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But it’s not just cars that have become safer. The tracks too: After Michael Schumacher (55) broke his leg at the Silverstone Grand Prix in 1999 when he hit the wall with his Ferrari, the track boundaries were further developed. The plastic barrier was used for the first time in the race in Monza (Italy) in 2006 and is still standard today.
Other crucial changes:
► In 2003, the HANS system (Head And Neck Support) became mandatory, which protects the drivers’ head and neck area. The trigger was an accident involving Mika Häkkinen (55) in Australia in 1995, when he flew off during qualifying and crashed into the track barrier at 200 km/h. A tracheostomy on the track saved the life of the Finn, who had swallowed his tongue. He also suffered a fractured skull from the violent impact.
► The HALO cockpit protection was introduced in 2018. The “roll bar” saved the life of, among others, Romain Grosjean (38) in Bahrain in 2020 when he crashed into the guardrail at 221 km/h and spent 27 seconds in a fire hell until he was finally able to get out – almost uninjured. When Grosjean’s monocoque dug into the guardrail, the HALO struck the metal first. If it hadn’t been for the seven-kilogram piece above the cockpit, the Frenchman’s helmet would have crashed directly into the guardrail.
He was sooooo close to Messi speedster making rookie mistake
Quelle: Soccer United Marketing via Reuters/Instagram02.05.2024
And Lewis Hamilton (39) also owes his life to the HALO. In 2021, Max Verstappen’s (26) Red Bull landed on the Brit’s Mercedes after an accident. Without the roll bar, the Dutchman’s right rear wheel would have crushed the seven-time world champion. Hamilton at the time: “I thank God for the HALO.”
The Mercedes star knows that he can still chase more world titles because the tragic death of his idol Ayrton Senna was the trigger for the rule revolution in Formula 1.