San Marino Grand Prix 1994 - Race Schedule and Countdown

The 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola became Formula 1's darkest weekend, forever changing the sport. On Saturday, Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger was killed when his Simtek suffered front wing failure at high speed during qualifying. The following day, Ayrton Senna started from pole position and led the race, but on lap 7 his Williams FW16 left the track at the high-speed Tamburello corner and struck the concrete wall at approximately 135 mph. The three-time World Champion sustained fatal head injuries and was pronounced dead later that day. The race was red-flagged, then restarted with Michael Schumacher going on to win from Nicola Larini and Mika Häkkinen in a subdued finish.

The tragedy of Imola, losing two drivers in one weekend, shocked the motorsport world and prompted immediate calls for improved safety standards. The race also saw a start-line accident involving Pedro Lamy and JJ Lehto, and a wheel detaching from Michele Alboreto's Minardi and injuring several spectators. These incidents marked a turning point in Formula 1's approach to safety, leading to the formation of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association and comprehensive circuit modifications, car design changes, and enhanced medical facilities that would make the sport significantly safer in subsequent years. Senna's death at age 34, at the peak of his powers, left an irreplaceable void in the sport.