Formula 1 fatalities
F1 drivers have died in harness up to fifty times throughout the years. Over time, there has been a notable decline in the incidence of fatal incidents in Formula One due to enhanced safety measures. The latest Formula One driver to pass away in an accident was Jules Bianchi. All Formula 1 drivers who passed away during or during race weekends, training sessions, or other activities are listed here.
A total of 50 drivers have died as a result of such accidents until 2023: 28 during Formula One Grand Prix events, 7 during the Indianapolis 500 (during the time it was still part of the F1 World Championship), 9 during test sessions and 6 during events not related to a world championship.
15 drivers died in the 1950s, 14 in the 1960s, 13 in the 1970s, 4 in the 1980s, 2 in the 1990s and 2 in the 21st century as well. The largest number of deceased drivers came from the United Kingdom. Twelve British drivers died in a Formula One car. The track where the most accidents occurred was the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where seven drivers died during the Indianapolis 500, which was still part of the world championship in the 1950s. Only one driver became world champion posthumously: Jochen Rindt in 1970, who died during a qualifying session. One former world champion died during a race: Ayrton Senna in 1994.
Since its birth in the middle of the last century, Formula 1 has become progressively safer. This led to a reduction in the number of fatal accidents within the sport. A recent addition within F1 is cockpit protection called HALO. After Jules Bianchi’s accident in 2014, they started developing such a system. The HALO has since proven its track record on several occasions, including during the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, when the innovative piece of technology saved the life of Romain Grosjean.
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