Ayrton Senna was considered one of the greatest Formula 1 racers of all time. He won the world championship thrice but passed away after a tragic event happened on the Imola weekend.
Ayrton Senna Death
This miserable event took place during lap 7 of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix while moving forward towards the Tamburello corner; Ayrton was driving with a speed of 191 MPH and overpassed the corner slightly, as a result of which he smacked into the bare concrete wall with the speed of 145 MPH. The tragedy had caused him serious brain injuries, skull fractures, and a ruptured temporal artery.
That accident left him with three serious injuries that included being hit in the helmet through a rebounding wheel and pierced by a loose suspension piece. In order to pay tribute to Ratzenberger, he kept the Austrian flag in his car.
Roland Ratzenberger succumbed to death the very same weekend amidst the qualification session after he suffered a rupture in the aorta as well as a basilar skull fracture.
At the same race track and during the same weekend, two deadly accidents happened. After Ayrton Senna, who was one of the greatest Formula One drivers, FIA went on to take some necessary moves in order to make sure high-speed collisions don’t result in casualties.
The steps include rebuilding the design of Formula 1 cars in order to make sure the parts that blow up in the accident would not cause any injury to drivers.
Ayrton Senna died on May 1, 1994 in Maggiore Hospital.
Changes in Formula 1 After Ayrton Senna’s Death
Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger’s death left some severe effects on Formula 1 racing. The implementation of better helmets, as well as Head and Neck Support (HANS), were introduced. As per The National: The HANS avoids “rapid and excessive head movement during accidents.”
After that, cars became much more secure, and the more-opened secure drivers from being stuck in the car. The inclusion of more medical staffers has also been made along with altered tracks.
On May 1, 2022, on the 26th anniversary of Ayrton Senna, the official Twitter account of Formula 1 and other F1 personalities paid homage to the legendary Senna using a hashtag: #SennaSempre, or “Senna Always.” McLaren F1’s Tweet read: “Reflecting on the life of a racing hero, champion, and friend as we mark 26 years since we lost Ayrton Senna. Always in our hearts. #SempreSenfna.”
Ayrton Senna will be remembered forever as a legend. Keep a watch on our website for more such news.