SUMMARY
- Throughout its evolution since 1950, Formula 1 has raced on diverse tracks, and a few have earned a reputation as the riskiest in motorsport history.
- Historical F1 crashes, like Michele Alboreto's in 1991 and Nelson Piquet's in 1987, highlight the sport's perilous nature.
There is no doubt that F1 poses real dangers, and one significant factor contributing to this is the risky nature of certain tracks. It is naturally hazardous to speed up above 200 mph while battling rivals side by side, which explains why drivers earn massive paychecks. In the diverse landscape, where the action unfolds in more places than ever, some tracks inevitably carry higher risks than others.
F1 extravaganza, which extends across more than twenty countries and five continents, offers thrills along with danger for our favorite drivers into every corner of the globe. Each track presents its own set of challenges, but some have gained infamy for their hazardous nature. However, since its inception in 1950, Formula 1 has evolved a lot as a sport with the latest technological breakthroughs.
Over the decades, F1 has raced on numerous tracks, each possessing unique challenges and allure. Among them, a few have etched their names as the riskiest in the history of motorsports. There were instances where drivers nearly lost their lives like Haas driver Romain Grosjean broke out of the ball of fire in 2020. Unfortunately, some were not lucky enough to escape and succumbed to the deadly accidents.
Here is a list of some of the craziest corners which led to the deadliest accidents in F1 history.
Michele Alboreto 1991 F1 testing crash
Driver Michele Alboreto piloted a Footwork-Porsche FA12 at the Imola Circuit ahead of to the 1991 San Marino Grand Prix. Recognized for partnering with Ferrari from 1984 to 1988, Alboreto won two races in 1985 and finished in second to Alain Prost. Rebranded as Footwork, he stuck with the squad in 1991 despite a difficult year with an uncompetitive Arrows-Ford.
Michele Alboreto Imola crash 1991.
It was that corner. #tamburello pic.twitter.com/FWpPxlgQXi
— Raceliefhebber (Wouter)🧡🏎 (@raceliefhebber) January 16, 2024
Alboreto, along with teammates Alex Caffi and test driver Perry McCarthy, tested the new car, FA12, for the 1991 world championship. A test like this one took place in Imola before of the San Marino Grand Prix. Alboreto lost control of his Footwork vehicle a while into the practice, and as a result, the front wing split and the car slammed with a concrete barrier.
The impact destroyed the front and rear of the car, rupturing the fuel tank and resulting in flames. Despite the violent crash, Alboreto quickly exited the car and walked away. He later required fifteen stitches but ended up completing the entire season. Ultimately, the FA12 proved below average, and Alboreto struggled to qualify for most races, finishing the season without scoring any points.
Nelson Piquet 1987 F1 crash
The Brazilian driver was one of the most prolific names on the grid in the ’80s. Then came the dreaded race at the very same circuit at San Marino. After achieving a record-setting lap time of 1 minute and 25.997 seconds on the 3.13-mile Dino Ferrari track, Piquet lost control of his car when it was accelerating at over 186 miles per hour.
The Tamburello turn, the first turn after the starting grid, was the location where the incident transpired. According to Piquet’s team lead, Frank Williams, they immediately transported Piquet to the hospital for observation. The first practice session for the San Marino race had been slated for one whole hour. But the incident happened just 23 minutes into the session.
The three-time champion unexpectedly spun out and collided with a safety barrier. Despite the wreckage at the front end of his car, the Brazilian came out, unharmed and was swiftly transported to Bellario Hospital in Bologna, approximately 19 miles away.
The spinout struck shortly after Piquet passed Adrian Campos, a driver representing Minardi, on the circuit’s quickest turn. Furthermore, the crash location was only a few meters from the spot where Ferrari driver Gilles Villeneuve, conquering an oil slick at high speed and sliding into a guardrail and back onto the track, miraculously avoided injury in 1980.
Gerhard Berger 1989 crash
One of the most notorious occurrences in sport’s history occurred in 1989 in Imola that involved Austrian driver Gerhard Berger riding a Ferrari. Fortunately, the episode ended with a massive fright with no fatal injuries. A potentially catastrophic repercussions for Berger was put on hold thanks to the prompt action of the CEA ‘lions’ when the car caught fire after the accident.
Berger and Nigel Mansell piloted the Ferrari 640 with its powerful but sensitive V12 engine all through the 1989 season. The automobile was significant for having John Barnard’s semi-automatic transmission, which was a rarity. Regardless, the driver had to face one of the most frightful accidents of his career.
The force of the impact knocked Berger unconscious, but he survived with just second-degree burns on his hands, minor bruises, and a cracked ribcage. The exposed gasoline tank caught fire almost entirely as the carbon-fiber monocoque absorbed the energy. The Prancing Horse team made a rational decision on identifying the source of the mishap to prevent similar ones in the future.
The design team at Barnard was caught aback as the front wing collapsed, crumpling underneath the wheel and morphing the vehicle into a sled. They had underestimated the forces passed on in an upward direction upon contact with the curbs.
Ferrari’s technical director referenced the ban on flexible front wing endplates. Teams that continued to use stiff versions for aerodynamic effects were more vulnerable to damage upon collision.
Crash that led to the death of Ayrton Senna
With three world titles and 41 race victories under his belt, Ayrton Senna is considered one of the greatest racing drivers of all time. However, Formula 1 fans to this day mourn the tragic events that transpired at the San Marino Grand Prix on May 1, 1994. Just a day before the fateful Sunday, Roland Ratzenberger lost his life owing to a crash during the qualifying session.
Despite this tragic event, the race proceeded; however, as a gesture of respect, authorities left Ratzenberger’s grid space unoccupied. The safety car interfered in the initial stages of the race after a major accident. On lap five, Senna seized the lead and set the pace for the pack when the safety car withdrew.
Senna’s Williams jumped the racing line on lap 7 at the infamous Tamburello turn and slammed an exposed concrete barrier. Data showed that Senna applied strong brakes, but the collision happened at 131 mph, ripping off the nose cone and front right wheel. Senna lay immobile in the cockpit following the impact.
The crash caused three severe injuries: an upright assembly pierced his helmet visor, a loose suspension component pierced his helmet, and a rebounding wheel struck his helmet. It was highly likely that these wounds were lethal.
Following the incident, an unidentified individual requested the removal of the black box from Senna’s car when it was towed to the pit lane. At 6:37 p.m., medical authorities decided not to revive his heart for the second time without the approval of his family. Approximately 6:40 p.m. local time, Ayrton Senna passed away.