Roland Ratzenberger's Fatal Crash - Imola 1994

Twenty minutes into the final qualifying session, Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger failed to negotiate the Villeneuve curva in his Simtek; he subsequently hit the opposing concrete barrier wall almost head-on and was critically injured. Although the survival cell remained largely intact, the force of the impact inflicted a basal skull fracture. Ratzenberger, in his first season as a Formula One driver, had run over a kerb at the Acque Minerali chicane on his previous lap, the impact of which is believed to have damaged his front wing. Rather than return to the pitlane, he continued on another fast lap. Travelling at 190 mph (306 km/h) his car suffered a front wing failure leaving him unable to control it.

The session was stopped while doctors attended to Ratzenberger. After initially being taken by ambulance to the on-circuit medical centre, he was airlifted to Maggiore Hospital shortly after, the second driver to be admitted there during the weekend. The session was restarted approximately 25 minutes later, but several teams—including Williams and Benetton—took no further part. Later in hospital, it was announced that Ratzenberger had died as a result of his multiple injuries. His death marked the first Formula One race weekend fatality since the 1982 Canadian Grand Prix when Riccardo Paletti was killed. It had been eight years since Elio de Angelis died testing a Brabham car at the Circuit Paul Ricard. Professor Sid Watkins, then head of the Formula One on-track medical team, recalled in his memoirs Ayrton Senna's reaction to the news, stating that "Ayrton broke down and cried on my shoulder." Watkins tried to persuade Senna not to race the following day, asking "What else do you need to do? You have been world champion three times, you are obviously the quickest driver. Give it up and let's go fishing." Senna replied, "Sid, there are certain things over which we have no control. I cannot quit, I have to go on."

[SWog]

Obviously you have to feel bad for Roland Ratzenberger, but watching the sadness on Ayrton Senna's face... and knowing that he'd die just a day later... is heartbreaking. May they both rest in peace.

[TheGarlicMan]

RIP Roland, scary to think Senna died the next day

[davidprice]

I don’t blame the head of F1 going to Ratzenburger’s funeral, and not Senna’s at all. Everyone in the world mourned Senna, while they forgot Ratzenburger. I think even Senna would have wanted it that way.

[frozenuruguayball]

Senna’s reaction to the wreckage just looking at the wreck he could tell it was fatal It was like he saw his very own crash I also seem to realize that his reaction was very similar to Lewis’s reaction to hubert’s crash

[probablygraham]

In the German speaking motorsport world, nobody has forgotten Roland Ratzenberger. His father still writes letters which are published regularly in the weekly motorsport newspaper MSA with his thoughts on motorsport issues or thanking people for their kind letters regarding Roland.

[anthonyiuculano]

Looking at Senna's troubled face knowing that it was his last full day on Earth... shivers.

[LPJack]

RIP Ayrton Senna (March 21, 1960 – May 1, 1994), aged 34
And
RIP Roland Ratzenberger (July 4, 1960 – April 30, 1994), aged 33
You both will be remembered as legends

[rockybalboa]

it sounds like Ayrton was watching his own accident . watching himself diying. Thinking about that I get crazy each time . I have never accepted Ayrton death.

[SekretSkwirral]

Disgrace how they continued. Roland’s first race after working so hard to get there … RIP Roland - an F1 career that never got chance to get off the ground.

[davidprice]

How eerie to see the honest, gut reaction of the man who lost a colleague in the same way he was about to be lost the next day. Gives you the creeps
#RIP_Roland and #RIP_Senna

[omnyt]

What a fucking weekend… I will never understand how they continue even after this accident…

[margritklaus]

Jesus, the look on Ayrtons face when he saw/ heard what happened...but then, what happened the next day would let everybody's heart freeze.
Rest in Peace, Roland & Ayrton <3

[roeiirani]

Senna put an Australian flag in his car and planned to wave it after the race in ratzenburger memory but he died in the race rip both of them

[nicklatrace]

You can see on Senna’s face that he knew Ratzenberger’s crash was fatal

[HenriZombie]

The representatives of the F1 era were to blame for Senna's death. Roland's death was a warning for cancellation, and at the time they ignored it.

[julienmarion]

After Roland’s death, they should have cancelled the GP the very next day…really sad

[InsanityFN]

So sad what happened to Retzenburger and it's even sadder to think that Senna had no idea what would happen to him just the following day.

[mpa]

0:44 "Oh shit" Senna knew that was a nasty one

[housesports]

They should’ve cancelled the race, why the race even continued on despite the fact everybody knew of Ratzenberger’s death was stupid

[kaeso]

Imola 1994 was messed up...apart from the deaths of ratzenberger and senna there was also the big crash barrichello had when his car flew towards the barricades and jj lehto aving his car shreded to pieces at the start of the race. It could have been 4 deaths.