I'm currently trawling back through all the deaths of F1 drivers in races, so far, the only one not caused by mechanical failure or fire is John Taylor at the 1966 German Grand Prix, who died after a collision with Jacky Ickx, but I can't find any indication of blame to either driver for that one at the moment. Anyone remember it? Going further back, I can't find a single incident (although I can't find some reports) where a driver was killed as a result of careless driving by another. The vast majority were mechanical failures, multi-car pile-ups, or freak accidents.
List of Formula One fatal accidents http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Formula_One_fatal_accidents Anyone interested in F1 should take the trouble to research and read up on it's history. They will soon realise that there is nothing new in F1. Lauda raced in the time when more spectators were killed than drivers. Lauda was read the last rites and then couldn't wait until he got back in his car again in order to win the WDC. He also refused to race in the wet conditions. Now this twice bankrupt Ferrari lackey pontificates about a driver that would have wiped the floor with him.
I thinks its quite sad of Lauda to brand Hamilton like this "At some point there has to be an end to all the jokes. You cannot drive like this - as it will result in someone getting killed, Lewis is a passing driver, i feel he has had everything against him these last two races. Im not a fan, (but not a dis-liker either) of hamilton just a neutral supporter, I think he is the most entertaining driver we have. On his day he can challenge Vettel, and most likely if he catches him win, He needs to come back to himself soon, or else he could go down a bad form road, decreasing his respect. We need Hamilton racing good in F1.
I'd say there is plenty new in F1, 20 years ago, do you think Perez would have come out of his accident at Monaco without a single broken bone? The massive increases in safety equipment, medical treatment and awareness of the danger has resulted in about 17 seasons since a fatal incident. Every year the regulations are improved to reduce the risks to drivers, marshals and spectators. You can see that recently with the wheel tethers, and next years changes to reduce the height of the noses, to improve safety in head on collisions. Everyone involved in F1 is much more safety conscious, and that is contributing to the reduction in accidents. Unfortunately, it is the freak accidents that can't be controlled, just this weekend the marshal that slipped over could have been hit by Kobayashi or Petrov, through nobodies fault in particular, and this is why F1 is inherently dangerous.
Sorry DH - I misrepresented my own point. There have been major improvements in safety. Mainly led by the experience of Jackie Stewart and his efforts to improve track safety and rescue procedures. When Jackie crashed he had to be rescued by his fellow drivers trapped in his car covered in petrol. The ambulance took a while to reach him. The medical staff were poorly trained and bungled him into the back of a van were his fellow drivers had to help him. The ambulance driver didn't even know where the nearest hospital was. After that experience, Jackie vowed to improve safety.
Ronnie Peterson 1978, some ridiculous start line antics meaning the cars at the front were stopped while those at the back didn't bother even slowing down.
Jim Clark was rumored to have killed Wolfgang Von trips by accident, Italians said he tried to block him or something which resulted in 14 deaths in the crowd.
What happened immediately after his crash beggars believe too! A life that so easily could have been saved.
Yeh, I did read that one when I was trying to find a case of carelessness on the part of a driver, I get the impression that the race was started before the cars at the back had stopped on the grid, and so had a massive advantage off of the line, leading to a pile up. There is a video below, Stewart talks it through at about 2min30: Judging by it, I'd say it's more of a racing incident, but caused by the earlier race start. Although reading into it more, apparently James Hunt and a few others completely blamed Patrese for the accident, so I guess that must classify as the most recent death caused by a driver.
I wasnt around in the 60's - 70's but i wonder, were these drivers, medics, teams, marshals properly trained. Was it as seriously contested as it is now. Were these drivers just going for a race, not knowing if they would come back alive.
What I know of the marshals didn't have the right clothing to take the temperature of the fire to get the driver out, Niki Lauda was dragged out by drivers.
The drivers and the spectators were not considered important enough to bother about. Modern safety is all down to Jackie Stewart efforts. Looking at that Peterson crash, try looking at the antics of the lead driver of a modern race as the safety car is about to pull in. Is there any real difference?
Unfortunately others were not so lucky such as Roger Williamson whose death was probably one of the most tragic in F1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_Dutch_Grand_Prix#Death_of_Roger_Williamson
Well in the case of the Nurburgring it just wasn't possible to properly marshall the circuit due to it's extreme length. Still is impossible to properly marshall the circuit to modern safety standards of F1 which is why it will NEVER make a return to the calendar.
Bit like a rally really. The car behind in theory has to stop to help, so they usually carry OK boards so the car behind can keep their speed up. I have been the first on the scene at a rally as a spectator but luckily the situation wasn't that bad. The cars take a lot these days and track marshals are generally epic.
The marshalls at the Roger Williamson crash are a disgrace however. You can see a marshall kicking dirt onto the car in an apparent firefighting effort. That action really sums up for the the incredible incompetence and farce of that tragic moment.
Jacky - that was how things were in those days. The guys seem to be wearing suits and ties for a job interview.
Yes I agree, it was not just that they were incompetent as well they also they pulled David Purley away from trying to help and they also stopped spectators trying to help. A total disgrace.
