F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Imola to remember Senna and Ratzenberger 30 years on

This year's Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola will be steeped in both celebration and remembrance as organizers mark the 30th anniversary of the deaths of F1 legend Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger.

The 1994 San Marino Grand Prix weekend cast a long shadow over the sport, with both drivers losing their lives in separate crashes.

Ratzenberger, a rising star in his third Grand Prix weekend, died during qualifying after his Simtek lost its front wing and struck a barrier at the notorious Villeneuve corner.

On May 1st the following day, Senna, a three-time world champion and beloved figure in the sport, succumbed to injuries sustained in a crash at the Tamburello curve while leading the race in its early stages in his Williams.

Both corners were later modified to improve safety. But the Imola tragedies of 1994 were a watershed moment for Formula 1, with the sport forced to confront its inherent risks.

Read also:

Sweeping changes followed centered around improved circuit safety features and stricter regulations on car design.

The FIA also gained more control over car development, dialing back speeds and emphasizing driver protection over raw performance.

Thirty years later, the shadow of tragedy still hangs heavy, marked by the silent tributes that line the circuit.

At the Tosa hairpin stands a memorial to Ratzenberger while across the track at Tamburello a somber statue of Senna stands watch.

Both sites remain vibrant testaments to their legacies, adorned with Austrian and Brazilian flags and portraits of the fallen heroes.

The Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI) has announced a series of initiatives to honor the memory of both drivers at this year's race.

“As a region we strongly wanted the return of Formula 1 to Imola, a central event in the very rich calendar of sporting events in Emilia-Romagna,” commented Stefano Bonaccini, president of the Emilia-Romagna region.

“This year the grand prix is enriched with further profound meanings: the memory of a much-loved champion like Ayrton Senna and a strong sign of a restart in Romagna hit by the flood.”

Last year, the F1 event was cancelled due to torrential downpours in the region. Lives were lost and thousands in the Emilia Romagna province were displaced, while floods inundated Imola’s pit complex, leaving the track basking in an unsettling silence on a Grand Prix weekend.

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

Sao Paulo GP: Saturday's action in pictures

Saturday's proceedings were cut short due to a heavy rain storm rolling into Sao Paulo…

1 hour ago

Sao Paulo GP qualifying postponed after repeated delays

The FIA has postponed Saturday’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix qualifying session due to adverse weather…

2 hours ago

McLaren: Team orders always ‘make life difficult for ourselves’

McLaren's successful 1-2 finish in the Brazilian Sprint race came with a dose of complexity,…

4 hours ago

Verstappen demoted to P4 following VSC infringement in Sprint

Max Verstappen has been demoted from third to fourth in the final standings of Saturday’s…

5 hours ago

Norris thanks Piastri for handing Sprint win, but not ‘proud’

Lando Norris secured victory in Saturday's Sprint event in Sao Paulo thanks to a McLaren…

6 hours ago

São Paulo GP: Norris handed sprint win by Piastri

McLaren clinched a valuable 1-2 sweep of the São Paulo sprint race, with polesitter Oscar…

7 hours ago