Death of Ayrton Senna

Rare card · No. 15877

On 1 May 1994, Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna was killed after his car crashed into a concrete barrier while he was leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at the Imola Circuit in Italy. Senna's death was the capstone to one of the darkest weekends in Formula One history. The previous day, Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger died when his car crashed during qualifying rounds. Several other collisions took place that weekend, including a serious one involving Rubens Barrichello. Ratzenberger and Senna's crashes were the first fatal accidents to occur during a Formula One race since Riccardo Paletti died at the 1982 Canadian Grand Prix. Senna's death, as well as other events of the race weekend, changed how safety aspects were considered at the time and triggered reforms prioritizing driver safety in Formula One. The Formula One drivers' union, the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, was re-established in the wake of Senna's death. Formula One did not suffer a fatal accident for another...

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