Unique: Rubens Barrichello opens up on the near-fatal Method 1 crash he suffered on the identical weekend that Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger had been killed at Imola
Rubens Barrichello can not bear in mind the Method 1 crash that just about killed him – as a result of the affect of the 140mph smash was so arduous. The 1994 San Marino Grand Prix weekend is named one of many darkest within the sport’s historical past as two racers misplaced their lives.
First, Roland Ratzenberger was killed in a crash throughout qualifying. Ayrton Senna was a kind of who had watched these scenes in horror however selected to race the next day, which proved to be an ill-fated determination as, on lap seven, the steering column of his Williams snapped and he hit a concrete wall at 131mph.
However there might have been a 3rd deadly crash that weekend, two days earlier. Throughout apply, Barrichello misplaced management on the Variante Bassa nook and, after hanging the kerb at round 140mph, his automotive was dramatically flung up into the air earlier than smashing into the highest of the tyre barrier.
The Jordan-Hart automotive rolled a number of instances and got here to relaxation the wrong way up. F1’s medical crew, headed by Professor Sid Watkins, rushed to his support. Barrichello had a few damaged bones however, had Watkins not been fast sufficient to maneuver his tongue, which was blocking his airway, he would have died.
“The crash was so arduous that I misplaced my reminiscence,” Barrichello, now 53, informed the our free Pit Lane Chronicle F1 e-newsletter. “I do not recall myself being within the cemetery carrying Ayrton’s coffin [four days after the crash].”
Being spared these recollections and the related trauma helped Barrichello, who was simply 21 years previous on the time and solely in his second F1 season, to not be deterred from persevering with his racing profession regardless of that hefty crash and likewise the lack of his nice buddy and mentor.
READ MORE: When McLaren can seal F1 title as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri battle rages onREAD MORE: F1 eyeing reverse grids and one different main change as talks with drivers deliberate
“I feel that was a constructive, that the sky simply cleared my thoughts and I used to be in a position to get again within the automotive,” he stated. “I do not bear in mind the crash, both – I type of bear in mind the affect. I simply stated, ‘Oops,’ after which it was such an affect.
“However I used to be in a position to clear that and I used to be in a position to go ahead and simply drive nuts. Once I acquired to the automotive in Silverstone, I used to be driving nuts both to crash once more or to see if my love for [racing] was intact. The love for that was intact. I used to be simply flying.”
Sky Sports activities launches discounted Method 1 bundle
£43
£35
Sky
Get Sky Sports activities right here
Method 1 followers can watch each apply, qualifying and race reside with Sky’s new Important TV and Sky Sports activities bundle in a brand new deal that saves £192.
In addition to Sky Sports activities entry, this contains greater than 100 TV channels and free subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.
Barrichello went on to take pleasure in a 19-year F1 profession which yielded 11 wins and 68 podiums in 322 race begins. He by no means turned World champion regardless of a number of trophy-laden years as Michael Schumacher’s team-mate at Ferrari, and racing for Brawn GP alongside Jenson Button throughout that fairytale 2009 season, however insists he’s “completely” glad together with his achievements.
He stated: “I used to be just a bit boy from Interlagos making an attempt to reside day-to-day and be proud of it. So, for those who suppose like that, what I conquered – I had the longest Method 1 profession for such a very long time. I’ve acquired to be comfortable and pleased with what that little boy from Interlagos, dreaming huge, has achieved.”
