WITH regard to the hysterical outpourings that have followed the tragic events at the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, I think it only fair to point out, in view of the very nature of the sport, the absolutely amazing safety record that Formula One motor racing has enjoyed for more than a decade.
Until 15 days ago only one man had been killed during practice, in 1986, and one on the starting grid, not in race conditions, in 1982. In view of the staggering increase in racing cars' performances over these years I think these statistics are truly amazing.
The only world champions that survived the era in which I was designing and racing cars - between 1957 and 1970 - are Juan Fangio, Jack Brabham and John Surtees. And only Phil Hill died in his bed.
Even Fangio walks with his head crooked as a result of an unscheduled trip over the top of the banking at Marenello.
In my opinion the cause of the three appalling crashes at Imola were the direct result of FIA doing away with the electronic goodies that had been developed up to the end of the 1993 season. Without active suspension and computer assistance the drivers now have to rely on their own incredible, but nonetheless fallible, reflexes. Barichello and Ratzenberger were both comparative novices to Formula One racing but were very experienced test drivers and had spent many hours testing the new electronic devices last year. This season they became fully fledged racers in cars equally powerful, but lacking the gadgetry they had become used to in the Formula One cars they had previously experienced.
Senna, of course, was at the other end of the scale. He was capable of driving a Formula One car faster than anyone else, right on the limit.
