List of Formula One fatalities explained

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, 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, where there was no medical back-up nor safety measures in case of an accident.^[5] Helmets were not made mandatory until, though these were simple cork-lined helmets with no visors.^[6] It was not until the 1960s that robust full-visor helmets were made mandatory, along with fireproof overalls, 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.^[7] 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.^[8] Following the death of Ayrton Senna in, 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 instead of racing slick tyres to reduce cornering speed.^[9] Safety measures continued to be introduced into the 21st century, with a number of circuits having their configuration changed to improve driver safety.^[10]

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 . Thirty-two of the drivers died from incidents during Grand Prix race weekends which formed part of the World Championship, seven died during test sessions, and twelve driving Formula One cars during non-championship Formula One weekends or vintage/historic 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, though the Indianapolis 500 was held to AAA regulations rather than Formula One regulations. 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, 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. 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 . Two Formula One Champions have died while racing or practising in Formula One, Jochen Rindt in, and Senna in 1994. Rindt was not a champion at the time of his death, but won the 1970 championship posthumously, the only driver to have done so.

Fatalities

Detail by driver

	Indicates event was not part of the Formula One World Championship, such as official non-championship Formula One events and unassociated events using vintage Formula One cars.
	Indicates test drive of a Formula One car that was not part of any competitive event.

Driver!scope=col

Date of accident	scope=col	Age	scope=col	Event	scope=col	Circuit	scope=col	Car	scope=col	Session	scope=col class="unsortable"
scope=row			29	Test	MIRA	ERA	Test	[11]
scope=row			50	Indianapolis 500	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	Kurtis Kraft	Practice	[12]
scope=row			26	Modena Grand Prix		Ferrari Tipo 500	Practice	[13]
scope=row			30	German Grand Prix	Nürburgring	Maserati 250F	Practice
scope=row			26	Pau Grand Prix	Circuit de Pau-Ville	Maserati 4CLT	Race	[14]
scope=row			33	Indianapolis 500	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	Kurtis Kraft	Practice
scope=row			36				Race
scope=row			26	Test		Ferrari 801	Test	[15]
scope=row			36	Indianapolis 500	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	Kurtis Kraft	Practice
scope=row			29	Indianapolis 500	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	Kurtis Kraft	Race
scope=row			33	French Grand Prix	Circuit de Reims-Gueux	Ferrari 246 F1	Race
scope=row			26	German Grand Prix	Nürburgring	Ferrari 246 F1	Race	[16]
scope=row			28	Moroccan Grand Prix	Circuit d'Ain-Diab	Vanwall	Race
scope=row			26	Indianapolis 500	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	Kuzma	Practice
scope=row			32			Cornis
scope=row			38	BRDC International Trophy	Silverstone Circuit	Cooper T51	Practice
scope=row			22	Belgian Grand Prix		Cooper T51	Race
scope=row			26			Lotus 18
scope=row			24	Silver City Trophy	Brands Hatch	Cooper	Practice	[17]
scope=row			38	Test		Cooper T51	Test
scope=row			33	Italian Grand Prix		Ferrari 156 F1	Race	[18]
scope=row			20	Mexican Grand Prix		Lotus 24	Practice	[19]
scope=row			25	Natal Grand Prix	Westmead Circuit	Lotus 24	Practice
scope=row			30	German Grand Prix	Nürburgring	Porsche 718	Practice
scope=row			33	German Grand Prix	Nürburgring	Brabham BT11	Race
scope=row			31	Monaco Grand Prix		Ferrari 312	Race
scope=row			36	Test	Silverstone Circuit	Brabham BT11	Test	[20]
scope=row			40	French Grand Prix	Circuit de Rouen-les-Essarts	Honda RA302	Race	[21]
scope=row			33	German Grand Prix	Nürburgring	BMW 269	Practice
scope=row			37	Nottingham Sports Car Club meeting	Silverstone Circuit	Cooper T86B	Race	[22] [23]
scope=row			28	Dutch Grand Prix		De Tomaso 505/38	Race	[24]
scope=row			28	Italian Grand Prix		Lotus 72	Qualifying	[25]
scope=row			35	World Championship Victory Race	Brands Hatch		Race	[26]
scope=row			25	Dutch Grand Prix		March 731	Race
scope=row			29	United States Grand Prix	Watkins Glen International	Tyrrell 006	Qualifying	[27]
scope=row			35	South African Grand Prix	Kyalami Racing Circuit	Shadow DN3	Test	[28]
scope=row			25	United States Grand Prix	Watkins Glen International	Surtees TS16	Race	[29]
scope=row			38	Austrian Grand Prix		March 751	Practice
scope=row			27	South African Grand Prix	Kyalami Racing Circuit	Shadow DN8	Race
scope=row			31	Shellsport International Series Round 11	Brands Hatch	McGuire BM1	Practice
scope=row			34	Italian Grand Prix		Lotus 78	Race	[30]
scope=row			35	Test	Hockenheimring	Alfa Romeo 179	Test	[31]
scope=row			32	Belgian Grand Prix		Ferrari 126C2	Qualifying	[32]
scope=row			23	Canadian Grand Prix		Osella FA1C	Race
scope=row			28	Test		Brabham BT55	Test	[33]
scope=row			33	San Marino Grand Prix		Simtek S941	Qualifying	[34]
scope=row			34			Williams FW16	Race
scope=row			59	Goodwood Festival of Speed	Goodwood Hillclimb	Lotus 63	Run	[35]
scope=row			58	Czech Superprix		Footwork FA17	Race	[36] [37]
scope=row			69	Jack Brabham Memorial Trophy	Silverstone Circuit	Lotus 18	Race	[38]
scope=row			25	Japanese Grand Prix	Suzuka International Racing Course	Marussia MR03	Race
scope=row			62	Historic Grand Prix		March 701	Race

By type of event

Fatalities by type of event

scope=col	Event	scope=col	Fatalities	scope=col	First	scope=col	Last
scope=row	World Championship	32	1953	2014
scope=row	Testing	7	1952	1986
scope=row	Non-Championship & other	13	1955	2017
Total	52	1952	2017

By nationality

Fatalities by Nationality

scope=col	Nationality	scope=col	Total	scope=col	First	scope=col	Last
scope=row	United Kingdom	14	1952	2014
scope=row	United States	10	1953	1975
scope=row	Italy	7	1955	1986
scope=row	France	5	1968	2017
scope=row	Austria	4	1970	2002
scope=row	Germany	2	1961	1969
scope=row	Argentina	1	1954
scope=row	Australia		1977
scope=row	Belgium		1953
scope=row	Brazil		1994
scope=row	Canada		1982
scope=row	Mexico		1962
scope=row	Netherlands		1964
scope=row			1962
scope=row	Sweden		1978
scope=row	Switzerland		1971
Total for 16 nationalities	52	1952	2017

By circuit

Fatalities by Circuit

scope=col	Circuit	scope=col	Total	scope=col	First	scope=col	Last
scope=row		7	1953	1959
scope=row		5	1954	1969
scope=row		4	1960	2014
scope=row		3	1953	1961
scope=row			1961	1977
scope=row			1961	1978
scope=row			1970	2017
scope=row		2	1960
scope=row			1973	1974
scope=row			1974	1977
scope=row			1994
scope=row		1	1952
scope=row			1955
scope=row			1958
scope=row			1958
scope=row			1962
scope=row			1962
scope=row			1967
scope=row			1968
scope=row			1975
scope=row			1980
scope=row			1982
scope=row			1982
scope=row			1986
scope=row			2000
scope=row			2002
scope=row			2014
Total for 27 circuits	52	1952	2017

By decade

First!scope=col class="unsortable"

Last
scope=row	1950s	15	1952	1959
scope=row	1960s	14	1960	1969
scope=row	1970s	12	1970	1978
scope=row	1980s	4	1980	1986
scope=row	1990s	2	1994	1994
scope=row	2000s	2	2000	2002
scope=row	2010s	3	2014	2017
Total	52	1952	2017

External links

• Formula One official website
• FIA official website

Notes and References

1. Web site: About FIA . Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) . October 31, 2008 . November 15, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121115160106/http://www.fia.com/en-GB/the-fia/about-fia/Pages/AboutFIA.aspx . live .
2. Web site: Williamson. Martin. A brief history of Formula One. ESPN. December 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20150406023200/http://en.espn.co.uk/f1/motorsport/story/3831.html. April 6, 2015.
3. Book: Hughes. Mark. Mark Hughes (journalist). The Concise Encyclopedia of Formula 1. Tremayne. David. David Tremayne. Parragon. 2002. 0-75258-766-8. 82–83. registration.
4. Web site: April 7, 2020. 2020 Formula One Sporting Regulations. April 15, 2020. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). 3–4. April 12, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200412175805/https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/2020_formula_1_sporting_regulations_-_iss_6_-_2020-04-07.pdf. live.
5. Web site: The fifties and sixties . . August 19, 2012 . August 28, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120828223540/http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/safety/a_history_of_safety_in_formula_one/7423.html . dead.
6. Web site: Evolution of Formula 1 helmets since the first days of the series until now . CMHelmets.com . 2022-03-18 . 2023-07-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220523170025/https://www.cmhelmets.com/news/evolution-of-formula-1-helmets-since-the-first-days-of-the-series-until-now/ . 2022-05-23 . live.
7. Web site: The seventies . . August 19, 2012 . August 28, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120828223545/http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/safety/a_history_of_safety_in_formula_one/7425.html . dead.
8. Web site: The eighties . . August 19, 2012 . August 28, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120828231219/http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/safety/a_history_of_safety_in_formula_one/7426.html . dead.
9. Web site: The nineties . . August 19, 2012 . August 28, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120828230939/http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/safety/a_history_of_safety_in_formula_one/7427.html . dead.
10. Web site: The 21st century . . August 19, 2012 . August 27, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120827062905/http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/safety/a_history_of_safety_in_formula_one/7428.html . dead.
11. News: Killed while testing racing car . . London . June 19, 1952 . 4.
12. Web site: Deaths in Formula One . Williamson . Martin . . https://web.archive.org/web/20150407012625/http://en.espn.co.uk/f1/motorsport/story/3838.html . April 7, 2015 . dead . September 14, 2016 .
13. Web site: Charles de Tornaco . ESPN UK . https://web.archive.org/web/20151225105208/http://en.espn.co.uk/ferrari/motorsport/driver/587.html . December 25, 2015 . live.
14. XVI Grand Prix de Pau . . XXXI . 5 . Teesdale Publishing . May 1955 . 264–265.
15. Web site: The dashing Milanese that stayed young forever . Diepraam . Mattijs . Muelas . Felix . 2001 . 8W . https://web.archive.org/web/20121015073500/http://www.forix.com/8w/castellotti.html . October 15, 2012 . live . Forix.com/8w.
16. Web site: Silverstone '58 – Hawthorn & Collins' all-English affair . Formula1.com . July 6, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029190016/http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2010/7/10984.html . October 29, 2013 . dead.
17. News: Racing driver dies after crash . The Times . London . June 2, 1961 . 23.
18. Web site: When motor racing really was a matter of life and death . Williams . Richard . Richard Williams (journalist) . September 5, 2011 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20131030142539/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/sep/05/motor-racing-deaths-monza . October 30, 2013 . live.
19. Web site: Ricardo Rodríguez . ESPN UK . https://web.archive.org/web/20151226041454/http://en.espn.co.uk/ferrari/motorsport/driver/822.html . December 26, 2015 . live.
20. Web site: Bob Anderson . ESPN UK . https://web.archive.org/web/20151225215741/http://en.espn.co.uk/brabham/motorsport/driver/851.html . December 25, 2015 . live.
21. Web site: Schlesser dies in experimental Honda at Rouen . ESPN UK . https://web.archive.org/web/20180215150505/http://en.espn.co.uk/onthisday/motorsport/story/2418.html . February 15, 2018 . live.
22. News: Racing car death . The Times . London . May 26, 1970 . 2.
23. Web site: Martin Brain . Motorsport Memorial . December 14, 2011.
24. News: Edworthy . Sarah . July 19, 2003 . Piers Courage lived life to the full and was tipped for GP greatness . The Daily Telegraph . London . https://web.archive.org/web/20120910035532/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2407958/Piers-Courage-lived-life-to-the-full-and-was-tipped-for-GP-greatness.html . September 10, 2012 . live.
25. Web site: Formula 1's greatest drivers. Number 20: Jochen Rindt . Benson . Andrew . March 13, 2012 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20160826143538/http://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/17319968 . August 26, 2016 . live.
26. Web site: Jo Siffert . ESPN UK . https://web.archive.org/web/20151224103925/http://en.espn.co.uk/brabham/motorsport/driver/830.html . December 24, 2015 . live.
27. Web site: François Cevert . ESPN UK . https://web.archive.org/web/20150715031448/http://en.espn.co.uk/march/motorsport/driver/923.html . July 15, 2015 . live.
28. Web site: Peter Revson . ESPN UK . https://web.archive.org/web/20160512093606/http://en.espn.co.uk/lotus/motorsport/driver/867.html . May 12, 2016 . live.
29. News: Katz . Michael . Michael Katz (journalist) . October 7, 1974 . Driver is killed as Fittipaldi wins title at Watkins Glen . . 45 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180723184137/https://www.nytimes.com/1974/10/07/archives/driver-is-killed-as-fittipaldi-wins-title-at-watkins-glen-driver.html . July 23, 2018 . live.
30. Web site: F1's greatest drivers – 19 Ronnie Peterson . Autosport . https://web.archive.org/web/20121209233744/http://f1greatestdrivers.autosport.com/?driver=19 . December 9, 2012 . dead . August 18, 2012 .
31. Web site: Patrick Depailler . ESPN UK . https://web.archive.org/web/20150715112153/http://en.espn.co.uk/alfaromeo/motorsport/driver/951.html . July 15, 2015 . live.
32. Web site: Formula 1's greatest drivers. Number 12: Gilles Villeneuve . Benson . Andrew . July 4, 2012 . BBC Sport . https://web.archive.org/web/20160826171628/http://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/18690210 . August 26, 2016 . live.
33. Web site: Elio de Angelis . ESPN UK . https://web.archive.org/web/20150713135232/http://en.espn.co.uk/brabham/motorsport/driver/1050.html . July 13, 2015 . live.
34. Web site: A death that shocked the world . Benson . Andrew . April 21, 2004 . BBC Sport . https://web.archive.org/web/20101124011903/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3605579.stm . November 24, 2010 . live.
35. News: Savill . Richard . June 26, 2000 . Brother of Earl dies in Goodwood hill climb . subscription . . London . https://web.archive.org/web/20160314231559/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1344980/Brother-of-earl-dies-in-Goodwood-hill-climb.html . March 14, 2016 . live.
36. Web site: Grave incident mars Czech Superprix . . July 16, 2002 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181021024400/https://www.motorsport.com/openwheel/news/grave-incident-mars-czech-superprix/99431/ . October 21, 2018 . live.
37. Web site: Fritz Glatz . Grandprix.com . July 19, 2002 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181021225639/https://www.grandprix.com/news/fritz-glatz.html . October 21, 2018 . live.
38. Web site: July 28, 2014. Historic racer Denis Welch dies in Silverstone Classic accident. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20181021174153/https://www.autosport.com/national/news/115183/historic-racer-welch-dies-at-classic. October 21, 2018. Autosport.