Austrian GP – The history of F1 is full of victorious tales, but it has also seen numerous tragedies in which drivers lost their lives while pursuing their greatest passion. In particular, the Austrian nationality has suffered numerous deaths and dramatic incidents.
Jochen Rindt: the posthumous champion
Jochen Rindt was dominating the 1970 Formula 1 World Championship with Lotus, having won 5 of the 9 Grands Prix contested. The title now seemed within reach, but his life was cut short on a Saturday in September, just before the “Parabolica” curve at the Monza racetrack, during qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix.
Rindt had chosen not to fit the spoilers on the fast Brianza track. Shortly before the "Parabolica", the Austrian crashed into the guardrail for reasons that are still uncertain. The steering column broke his rib cage causing serious damage to his lower limbs. He died on the way to the Niguarda hospital. None of his pursuers managed to exceed the 45 points achieved with his 5 victories and so Jochen became the first and only F1 world champion after his death.
![Austrian GP](https://www.formulacritica.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Rindt-jpg.webp)
Helmut Marko: from the triumphs of Le Mans to forced retirement
Helmut Marko, known today as director of Red Bull's youth program and talent scout, had a short but intense career in motor racing. With the German Martini International Racing team he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for two consecutive years, in 1970 and 1971 aboard the Porsche 908 and 917K.
In the same period he tried the adventure in F1, but achieved poor results. During the French Grand Prix at the Clermont-Ferrand circuit, a stone thrown from Emerson Fittipaldi's car violently hit Marko's helmet while he was driving his BRM. The accident forced him to retire from competitions prematurely.
Helmuth Koinigg: the killer guardrail
Helmuth Koinigg was a young driver with dreams of racing in Formula 1. He rented a Brabham for the 1974 Austrian Grand Prix, but did not qualify for the race. He met his death in the last Grand Prix of the season, the United States at Watkins Glen.
During the race, on lap 10, a tire went flat and Koinigg lost control of the car, which went under the barriers. He will emerge horribly decapitated. The race was not stopped and his car was covered with a veil, with his head still in the helmet. A gruesome scene that raised criticism about safety in Formula 1. With the Halo, his life would most likely have been saved.
Niki Lauda: hell at the Nürburgring
Niki Lauda, world champion in 1975 with Ferrari, dominated the 1976 world championship with 5 victories and 3 podiums. During the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring on 1 August 1976, Lauda suffered a serious accident. He decided to change tires from wet to dry ones, but at the “Bergwerk” bend, with the tires still cold on damp asphalt, he lost control of his Ferrari which hit a rock and caught fire in the crazy carambola .
He was hit by other cars but Arturo Merzario, Harald Ertl and Brett Lunger pulled him out of the burning cockpit. Seriously injured and burned, Lauda fought for his life. He missed only two Grands Prix and returned to the track the following month, in Monza, obtaining a memorable fourth place despite his injuries not yet healed.
![Lauda helmet](https://www.formulacritica.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lauda-jpg.webp)
Gerhard Berger: flames at the Tambourine
In the 1989 San Marino Grand Prix, Gerhard Berger's Ferrari went off the track at Tamburello at over 300 km/h. The car caught fire but thanks to the timely action of volunteers, known as the "CEA Lions", Berger survived with a broken rib and burns to his hands. He missed the following Monaco Grand Prix but returned to the track soon after.
Roland Ratzenberger: F1 rediscovers death
At 33, Roland Ratzenberger, after a long career in the minor categories, signed to compete in Formula 1 in 1994. During qualifying for the tragic San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, his Simtek went off the track and the front wing came off . Ratzenberger lost his life after a violent impact against the wall at Tosa, in what was one of the most serious accidents in the history of the category
Karl Wendlinger: fear in Monte Carlo
Two weeks after the tragic events in Imola, Karl Wendlinger had a serious accident at the “Nouvelle Chicane” during free practice for the Monaco Grand Prix. The Sauber crashed violently into the barriers, leaving Wendlinger in a medically induced coma for three weeks.
Conclusions
Fate seems to have particularly affected Austrian pilots with numerous tragedies. Is it a curse or simply a series of tragic coincidences? Everyone can have their own opinion, but the fact remains that these pilots were living their biggest dream, a dream that was worth living.
Crediti foto: F1