Formula One (F1) is the highest class of
open-wheeled auto racing defined by the
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), 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 1950, where there was no medical back-up nor safety measures in case of an accident. Helmets were not made mandatory until 1952, though these were simple cork-lined helmets with no visors. It was not until the 1960s that robust full-visor helmets were made mandatory, along with fireproof overalls, 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 1994, a number of measures were introduced in an attempt to slow the cars down, including bodywork aerodynamic limitations, a pit lane speed limit and temporary circuit modifications such as extra chicanes. Grooved tyres were introduced in 1998 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 (including practice, qualifying and the race), 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 1952. Thirty-two of the drivers died from incidents during Grand Prix race weekends which formed part of the World Championship, seven died during test sessions, and twelve driving Formula One cars during non-championship Formula One weekends or vintage/historic 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, though the Indianapolis 500 was held to AAA regulations rather than Formula One regulations. 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 1994, 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 (two from the 1960s, one from the 1990s) 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 1970, and Senna in 1994. Rindt was not a champion at the time of his death, but won the 1970 championship posthumously, the only driver to have done so.
Fatalities
Detail by driver
| †
|
Indicates event was not part of the Formula One World Championship, such as official non-championship Formula One events and unassociated events using vintage Formula One cars.
|
| ‡
|
Indicates test drive of a Formula One car that was not part of any competitive event.
|
By type of event
By nationality
By circuit
By decade
Fatalities by Decade
| Decade
|
Total
|
First
|
Last
|
| 1950s
|
15
|
1952
|
1959
|
| 1960s
|
14
|
1960
|
1969
|
| 1970s
|
12
|
1970
|
1978
|
| 1980s
|
4
|
1980
|
1986
|
| 1990s
|
2
|
1994
|
1994
|
| 2000s
|
2
|
2000
|
2002
|
| 2010s
|
3
|
2014
|
2017
|
| Total |
52 |
1952 |
2017
|
![Onofre Marimón was the first fatality specifically at a World Championship Grand Prix, the 1954 German Grand Prix; Chet Miller was the first fatality at a World Championship event, the 1953 Indianapolis 500[note 1]](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/Onofre_Marim%C3%B3n_-_El_Gr%C3%A1fico_1708.jpg/85px-Onofre_Marim%C3%B3n_-_El_Gr%C3%A1fico_1708.jpg)
Onofre Marimón was the first fatality specifically at a World Championship Grand Prix, the 1954 German Grand Prix; Chet Miller was the first fatality at a World Championship event, the 1953 Indianapolis 500
Jochen Rindt is the only driver to posthumously win a World Championship, missing the last four races after his fatal crash in qualifying for the 1970 Italian Grand Prix
Three-time world champion Ayrton Senna is the only former champion to die from a crash during a World Championship race, the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix
Jules Bianchi is the most recent fatality resulting from a World Championship race incident, dying from injuries suffered at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix![Onofre Marimón was the first fatality specifically at a World Championship Grand Prix, the 1954 German Grand Prix; Chet Miller was the first fatality at a World Championship event, the 1953 Indianapolis 500[note 1]](/key/File:Onofre_Marim%C3%B3n_-_El_Gr%C3%A1fico_1708.jpg)
.jpg)
United Kingdom
United States
Italy
France
Austria
Germany
Argentina
Australia
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Mexico
Netherlands
Rhodesia and Nyasaland
Sweden
Switzerland
Kyalami Racing Circuit
Circuit de Pau-Ville
Circuit d'Ain-Diab
Circuit de Monaco
Autodrom Most
Suzuka International Racing Course