Safety in F1: From Ayrton Senna to Today

Formula 1 is one of the most exciting but also one of the most dangerous sports. How has safety evolved along with the sport?

Formula 1’s Origins: An Extreme Challenge

Since the 1950s, F1 drivers have pushed the limits of speed and technology. In doing so, they took extreme risks on the circuits.

However, safety in F1 is constantly changing, and tragedies have often marked the moments of greatest change.

A moment that marked the history of the sport was the tragic weekend at Imola in 1994. Ayrton Senna, one of the sport’s greatest legendary figures, lost his life.

His death profoundly shook the world of F1, leaving an indelible mark.

From that moment on, efforts to protect drivers became a top priority, radically transforming the sport without compromising the spectacle.

In the 1950s and 1970s, safety in F1 was non-existent because the priority was speed and spectacle. First of all, the cars were primitive in terms of protection.

The chassis were made of materials with little strength. They also lacked basic systems such as seat belts or reinforced structures to protect the cockpit.

Moreover, the circuits themselves were dangerous, characterised by non-existent escape routes, rudimentary barriers and obstacles such as trees or poles close to the track.

Consequently, the risk of serious accidents was very high, and unfortunately, tragedies were frequent.

Drivers like Jim Clark, Jochen Rindt and many others lost their lives, underlining the fragility of the safety measures of the time. However, despite the obvious danger, safety regulations were slow to arrive.

The 1980s and 1990s: The First Steps Towards Greater Security

Towards the 1980s and 1990s, F1 began to take its first significant steps towards greater safety.

First, more advanced seat belts were introduced, designed to keep drivers firmly anchored in their seats during accidents.

At the same time, helmets underwent considerable improvements, becoming more impact-resistant and equipped with anti-splinter visors.

In addition, circuits began to be designed more carefully. Escape routes were widened, more effective protective barriers were introduced and risk zones were reduced.

Although these improvements were introduced, safety still remained inadequate.

Ayrton Senna: The Tragic Turning Point

Senna, considered one of the greatest drivers in history, tragically lost his life at Imola on 1 May 1994. During the race, his car left the track at the Tamburello corner, crashing into a wall at over 200 km/h.

The accident, caused by a mechanical failure, was fatal and shook the world of sport deeply. Only a day before, Roland Ratzenberger had lost his life during qualifying, making that weekend one of the most tragic in the sport’s history.

Senna’s death had an unprecedented emotional and media impact. This tragic event prompted the FIA to step in and make a decision.

A radical revision of safety measures was initiated, with changes that transformed the cars, circuits and regulations, marking the beginning of a new era for the motorsport series.

F1 in the 21st Century: Safety at the Core

In the 21st century, safety in F1 has reached unprecedented levels, thanks mainly to fundamental technological innovations.

Firstly, the introduction of the HANS (Head and Neck Support) system has significantly reduced the risks of serious neck and head injuries during impacts.

Similarly, the cars have been revolutionised with the carbon fibre monocoque. The cockpit is incredibly strong and capable of protecting drivers even in very high-speed crashes.

In addition, the halo, introduced in 2018, has proved essential in safeguarding drivers’ heads from debris or crashes. This is demonstrated during Guanyu Zhou‘s terrible accident at Silverstone in 2022, in which the halo saved his life.

Finally, the simulator has become a central tool for testing the safety conditions of cars and circuits, thus making it possible to prevent many risks before even taking to the track.

Today’s F1: A Balance Between Safety and Spectacle

Today’s F1 is an example of how technology and research can save lives without compromising the essence of motorsport.

Romain Grosjean had a heart-stopping crash at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, with F1’s safety evolution allowing him to survive what others in earlier errors wouldn’t have survived.

Charles Leclerc was involved in a risky incident at Spa in 2018, but just like Grojsean, thanks to the halo and the carbon fibre monocoque he walked out unharmed.

Fernando Alonso and Guanyu Zhou have also faced dangerous accidents, in Australia in 2016 and at Silverstone in 2022 respectively, emerging unscathed thanks to technological advances.

These examples, show us how technological advances have helped F1 to become safer by enabling drivers to compete at top speed with a high margin of protection.