List of Formula One fatalities


is the highest class of open-wheeled auto racing defined by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, motorsport's world governing body. The "formula" in the name refers to a set of rules to which all participants and vehicles must conform. The F1 World Championship season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix, held usually on purpose-built circuits, and in a few cases on closed city streets. The results of each race are combined to determine two annual Championships, one for drivers and one for constructors.
Safety standards have improved since the first World Championship Grand Prix at Silverstone in, where there was no medical back-up or safety measures, in case of an accident. It was not until the 1960s these were first introduced, as helmets and overalls became mandatory and the FIA assumed responsibility for safety at the circuits. Steps were taken to improve the safety of the Formula One car in the 1970s; the cockpit opening was enlarged allowing the driver to escape more quickly in the event of an accident and outside mirrors became mandatory. The 1980s saw further improvement in the structure of the Formula One car, with the monocoque being made out of carbon fibre instead of aluminium, increasing protection upon impact. Following the death of Ayrton Senna in, a number of measures were introduced in an attempt to slow the cars down, including the prohibition of traction control systems. Grooved tyres were introduced in instead of racing slick tyres to reduce cornering speed. Safety measures continued to be introduced into the 21st century, with a number of circuits having their configuration changed to improve driver safety.
This list includes drivers who have died during a FIA World Championship event, and those who have died while driving modern or vintage Formula One cars outside the World Championship. Track marshals and other race attendees who have died as a result of these accidents are not included in the list. Fifty-two drivers have died from incidents that occurred at a FIA World Championship event or while driving a Formula One car at another event, with Cameron Earl being the first in. Thirty-two of the drivers died from incidents during Grand Prix race weekends which formed part of the World Championship, seven during test sessions and twelve during non-championship Formula One events. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has seen the most fatalities; seven drivers have died there during the time that the Indianapolis 500 formed part of the world championship. Fifteen drivers died in the 1950s; fourteen in the 1960s; twelve in the 1970s; four in the 1980s and two in the 1990s. Following the deaths of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna at Imola on consecutive days in, no driver died during world championship events for more than 20 years until Jules Bianchi's death in 2015, from injuries sustained during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. Three drivers died in the intervening years while driving former Formula One cars in vintage racing and other events not associated with World Championship Grands Prix. Two Formula One Champions have died while racing or practising in Formula One, Jochen Rindt in, and Senna in 1994. Rindt is the only driver to have won the championship posthumously.

Fatalities

DriverDate of accidentEventCircuitCarSessionRef.
June 18, 1952TestMIRAERATest
May 15, 1953Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayKurtis KraftPractice
September 18, 1953Modena Grand PrixFerrari Tipo 500Practice
July 31, 1954German Grand PrixNürburgringMaserati 250FPractice
April 11, 1955Pau Grand PrixCircuit de Pau-VilleMaserati 4CLTRace
May 16, 1955Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayKurtis KraftPractice
May 30, 1955Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayKurtis KraftRace
March 14, 1957TestFerrari 801Test
May 15, 1957Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayKurtis KraftPractice
May 30, 1958Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayKurtis KraftRace
July 6, 1958French Grand PrixCircuit de Reims-GueuxFerrari 246 F1Race
August 3, 1958German Grand PrixNürburgringFerrari 246 F1Race
October 19, 1958Moroccan Grand PrixCircuit d'Ain-DiabVanwallRace
May 2, 1959Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayKuzmaPractice
May 19, 1959Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayCornisPractice
May 13, 1960BRDC International TrophySilverstone CircuitCooper T51Practice
June 19, 1960Belgian Grand PrixCooper T51Race
June 19, 1960Belgian Grand PrixLotus 18Race
June 1, 1961Silver City TrophyBrands HatchCooperPractice
June 15, 1961TestCooper T51Test
September 10, 1961Italian Grand PrixFerrari 156 F1Race
November 1, 1962Mexican Grand PrixLotus 24Practice
December 21, 1962Natal Grand PrixWestmead CircuitLotus 24Practice
August 1, 1964German Grand PrixNürburgringPorsche 718Practice
August 7, 1966German Grand PrixNürburgringBrabhamRace
May 7, 1967Monaco Grand PrixFerrari 312Race
August 14, 1967TestSilverstone CircuitBrabhamTest
July 7, 1968French Grand PrixCircuit de Rouen-les-EssartsHonda RA302Race
August 1, 1969German Grand PrixNürburgringBMWPractice
May 25, 1970Nottingham Sports Car Club meetingSilverstone CircuitCooperRace
June 21, 1970Dutch Grand PrixDe TomasoRace
September 5, 1970Italian Grand PrixLotus 72Qualifying
October 24, 1971World Championship Victory RaceBrands HatchBRM P160Race
July 29, 1973Dutch Grand PrixMarchRace
October 6, 1973United States Grand PrixWatkins Glen InternationalTyrrellQualifying
March 22, 19741974 South African Grand PrixKyalami Racing CircuitShadow DN3Test
October 6, 1974United States Grand PrixWatkins Glen InternationalSurteesRace
August 17, 1975Austrian Grand PrixMarchPractice
March 5, 1977South African Grand PrixKyalami Racing CircuitShadow DN8Race
August 29, 1977Shellsport International Series Round 11Brands HatchMcGuire BM1Practice
September 10, 1978Italian Grand PrixLotus 78Race
August 1, 1980TestHockenheimringAlfa Romeo 179Test
May 8, 1982Belgian Grand PrixFerrari 126CQualifying
June 13, 1982Canadian Grand PrixOsellaRace
May 14, 1986TestBrabham BT55Test
April 30, 1994San Marino Grand PrixSimtek S941Qualifying
May 1, 1994San Marino Grand PrixWilliams FW16Race
June 24, 2000Goodwood Festival of SpeedGoodwood HillclimbLotus 63Run
July 14, 2002Czech SuperprixFootwork FA17Race
July 27, 2014Jack Brabham Memorial TrophySilverstone CircuitLotus 18Race
October 5, 2014Japanese Grand PrixSuzuka International Racing CourseMarussia MR03Race
September 2, 2017Historic Grand PrixMarch 701Race

By nationality

By circuit