Imola honours Senna and Ratzenberger thirty years after their fatal crashes

It is exactly 30 years this year since Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger lost their lives during the Imola Grand Prix weekend. The circuit management has decided to honour both of them during the upcoming Grand Prix at the Italian circuit.

The 1994 San Marino Grand Prix - as the race was then called - is one of the darkest pages in Formula 1 history. On the Friday, Rubens Barrichello miraculously survived his terrible crash into the tyre pile, but a day later Roland Ratzenberger was not so lucky. The Austrian lost control of his Simtek in the Villeneuve curve and went almost straight ahead into the concrete wall. Ratzenberger's death was reported an hour after the crash.

Ayrton Senna was greatly distressed by the accident and, with slight reluctance, decided to start the race a day later after all. On Lap 6 and at 211 kilometres per hour on the clock, the Brazilian could not steer into the Tamburello corner. The impact into the wall brought an end to the F1 icon's life.

After years of absence from the Formula 1 calendar and after an extensive renovation of the circuit, F1 has been back in Imola for several years. The circuit organisers have decided to commemorate and honour Senna and Ratzenberger during the upcoming Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. This will be done with all kinds of activities. The exact details will become clear in the coming weeks. The 2024 race is scheduled for Sunday, 19 May.