| Date | 1 May 1994 |
|---|---|
| Time | 2:17 p.m. (CEST) |
| Location | Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Emilia-Romagna, Italy |
| Cause | High speed crash |
| Deaths | Ayrton Senna |
| ||
|---|---|---|
Media |
||
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. The previous day, Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger had died when his car crashed during qualification for the race. 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 meeting since that of Riccardo Paletti at the 1982 Canadian Grand Prix, and were also the last until that of Jules Bianchi at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. This became a turning point in the safety of Formula One, prompting the implementation of new safety measures in both Formula One and the circuit, as well as the Grand Prix Drivers' Association to be reestablished. The Supreme Court of Cassation of Italy ruled that mechanical failure was the cause of the crash.