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

Aston Martin says performance shortfall led to Fallows exit

Aston Martin performance director Tom McCullough has shed some light on why the team’s former…

6 hours ago

FIA clamps down on plank loophole after Red Bull complaint

The FIA has issued a pivotal Technical Directive to F1 teams ahead of this weekend’s…

8 hours ago

F1 drivers blindsided by race director Wittich’s sudden exit

The abrupt removal last week of FIA race director Niels Wittich with just three races…

9 hours ago

McLaren relaxes ‘papaya rules’: Norris and Piastri free to race

Oscar Piastri has confirmed that McLaren’s team orders—dubbed the "Papaya Rules"—have been largely relaxed, giving…

10 hours ago

Cheers to the forever young pure racer Jacques Laffite

The forever young Jacques Laffite turns 81 today, but the years haven't aged this pure…

12 hours ago

Las Vegas GP: Wednesday's build-up in pictures

The neon lights of Las Vegas are set to illuminate the Formula 1 world once…

12 hours ago