Thread: '55-'65 F1 drivers = deadly crashes?

Why is it that almost all of the really good F1 drivers were in deadly crashes?
For instance, Niki Lauda, Jilles Villeneuve, Ayrton Senna, etc. Why?
Was it a coincidence, or just inferior safety technology?

Thanks,
Ben

Originally Posted by F1Ben

Why is it that almost all of the really good F1 drivers were in deadly crashes?
For instance, Niki Lauda, Jilles Villeneuve, Ayrton Senna, etc. Why?
Was it a coincidence, or just inferior safety technology?

Niki Lauda is still alive But you're right, a lot of great drivers lost their lives on track, whether it was Jim Clark, Gilles Villeneuve or Ayrton Senna.

But there are also many other drivers that have died in Formula 1 too. Take for example Onofre Marimon, Jo Schlesser, Chris Bristow, Alan Stacey, Roger Williamson and Riccardo Paletti among others

Between 1960 and 1980, on average one driver died every year in a Formula 1 race. Of course as you said with the improved technology, the fatality rate started to drop in the 1980s, and even more in the 1990s. Fortunately, this decade has not seen any fatalities at all

There was a different thinking associated with race driving in the past.

The danger was part of the spectacle, the drivers knew it and accepted it, it wasn't until men like Jackie Stewart really came out and started talking about track and car safety than anything really got done.

It's a shame really the world lost a lot of great drivers in those days. Jochen Rindt, Bruce McLaren, Jo Siffert, Lorenzo Bandini. Not to mention many who were crippled for life such as Clay Reggazzoni.