Timeline

   Back to Safety in Formula One Motor Racing from 1950

This timeline provides a summary of some of the important developments and events in Formula One from 1950:

1950

The FIA introduce the World Drivers' Championship, races include 6 European GPs and the Indianapolis 500

1954

The Indy 500 remains a championship race but few drivers take part in Indy and F1

1955

Alberto Ascari is killed testing a Ferrari Sportscar - many people suggest this influenced Gianni Lancia's withdrawal from the sport. Earlier in the season Ascari had crashed into the Monaco harbour during the GP.

At Le Mans 1 driver and 83 spectators are killed during the Sportscar race. All classes of racing were banned in France, Switzerland, Spain and Mexico - these bans were lifted soon after in all countries bar Switzerland where racing remains banned to this day. The American Automobile Association withdrew their FIA membership though two new American organizations were formed and joined the FIA and sanctioned racing.

Monza spend £500,000 on refurbishment, including concreting the banking prompting drivers to use corsetry style harnesses as the banking is difficult to drive.

1957

Eugenio Castelotti is killed testing at Modena, Italy 14^th March

1958

Bernie Ecclestone buys the struggling Connaught Team.

1959

Many more entrepreneurs enter the sport as team owners producing their own race cars around bought 'off the shelf' components leading the teams to be termed Kit Car Teams as opposed to the Works teams - big name manufacturers who produced the whole car themselves.

1960

Chris Bristow and Alan Stacey are both killed during the Belgian GP at Spa in separate incidents on 19^th June.

1961

The Indy 500 is removed from World Championship status.

The Formula One Drivers form the Grand Prix Drivers Association, GPDA, in May

1962

Stirling Moss suffers a serious crash at Goodwood, England.

1963

The FIA form the Commission Sportive Internationale, CSI, to oversee international motorsport. The FIA begin to take over circuit safety inspections from the national authorities. A system of on-track flag signaling is introduced

1964

The Formula One Constructors' Association, FOCA, is founded by Andrew Ferguson, Lotus F1 manager, to represent the constructors concerns with the governing body - they represented the interests of the kit car teams

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1966

John Taylor has an accident during the German GP, Nurburgring on 7th August and though it appeared he was recovering well from his injuries he dies on 8^th September.

1967

The International Grand Prix Medical Service, GPMS, was founded by Louis Stanley, an associate of the BRM team with support from the GPDA, notably driver Jackie Stewart. The GPMS was not affiliated to the FIA and many circuit owners boycotted the use of the GPMS mobile medical unit

1968

The FIA lift the ban on commercial sponsorship. The Lotus F1 negotiate a sponsorship deal with Gold Leaf.

Former World Champion Jim Clark is killed during a Formula Two race at Hockenheim, Germany.

1969

CSI rules all cars must carry onboard fire extinguishers and introduce measures to limit wing use and design after a number of accidents due to wing failure.

1970

Jochen Rindt becomes the first posthumous World Drivers' Champion.

Max Mosley becomes a founder member of the March race team.

Safety regulations introduced include: barrier between the pits and track; straw bales banned and mandatory FIA circuit inspections.

1971

The Mexican GP is banned due to poor safety standards the year before when spectators got to the side of the track.

Safety regulations introduced include: drivers must be able to evacuate the cockpit in a maximum of 5 seconds.

Bernie Ecclestone buys the Brabham F1 team.

1972

Bernie Ecclestone becomes FOCA secretary

1973

Mike Hailwood is awarded the George Medal after saving Clay Regazzoni from his burning car at the South African GP.

The Tyrrell team withdraw after Cevert's fatal accident.

1974

1975

Graham Hill, Tom Brise and five team members are killed in a light aircraft crash.

The Spanish GP is almost cancelled when drivers complain about poor safety precautions. The race organizers threaten to impound cars if the drivers do not race, which they do. Emerson Fittapaldi retires from the race in protest. Later in the race there is a crash which kills a number of spectators who were in a prohibited area.

1976

Niki Lauda crashes heavily at the German GP, Nurburgring suffering severe burns. Despite being in a critical condition in intensive care he recovers and competes in the Italian GP less than six weeks later.

1977

At the Japanese GP, Ronnie Peterson and Gilles Villeneuve crash killing a spectator and an official who was trying to move spectators from a prohibited area - seven others were injured.

Drivers helmet must be FIA approved.

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1978

The CSI ban 'skirts' - a design innovation particularly used by the FOCA affiliated teams who ignore the ban.

Bernie Ecclestone asks Professor Sid Watkins, a prominent neurosurgeon and member of the RACMSA medical panel, to look at medical and safety at F1 races. Prof. Watkins is given the role of 'FOCA Surgeon'. At the end of 1978 Prof. Watkins proposals for a new safety initiative are officially supported by FOCA, FIA, CSI and a number of drivers.

Bernie Ecclestone becomes FOCA President

1979

The CSI is reformed as the Federation Internationale du Sport Automobile, FISA, to control FIA World Championship events. Jean-Marie Balestre is appointed FISA President. FOCA become increasingly powerful both economically and influentially. FISA officials believe FOCA, and notably Ecclestone himself, are challenging their right to run F1. This period sees the beginning of what is later termed the 'FISA-FOCA War'.

1980

FISA and FOCA clash over technical regulations. Many races are cancelled or run as either FOCA or FISA events with only the affiliated teams taking part. Goodyear threaten to withdraw prompting meetings between FOCA and FISA officials to try and reach a compromise.

Clay Regazzoni is paralyzed during the US GP at Long Beach.

Safety regulations introduced included: permanent medical centres at tracks and FIA approved medical service as mandatory.

1981

In the run up to the new season Ecclestone announces a new championship after forming the World Federation of Motor Sport but race organizers and sponsors stick with FISA. In January FISA and FOCA officials met once more and draw up the Concorde Agreement which appeased many of their disagreements. The contents of the agreement are secret and subject to renewal every 4 years. What is known about the agreement is it acknowledges FISA's right to set the rules for the sport but allows FOCA the promotional rights of the sport.

In September FISA form a medical commission of which Prof. Watkins is voted President. The commission analysis's all major accidents and liase with the safety commission - the respective commission presidents sitting on both commissions.

1982

Ferrari withdraw from the Belgian GP after Villeneuve's death. His team-mate, Didier Pironi later suffers career ending injuries during practice at the German GP.

1985

Jean-Marie Balestre is elected FIA President after Prince Paul Von Metternich retires; Balestre is also re-elected FISA President.

1986

Team manager, Frank Williams is paralyzed after a road traffic accident.

A medical helicopter at events become mandatory.

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1987

March become the first race team to float on the stock exchange.

The decision is taken to phase out turbo engines over the next two years.

Bernie Ecclestone appointed Vice President of Promotional Affairs FISA (later FIA)

1989

Gerhard Berger is lucky to escape with superficial injuries after a violent and fiery accident during the San Marino GP at Imola. Berger crashes at Tambarello, the corner where Ayrton Senna will have his fatal accident in 1994.

1990

Random drug testing is introduced.

Martin Donnelly has a serious accident which effectively ends his driving career.

1991

Max Mosley ousts Jean-Marie Balestre as FISA President

1993

The FIA undergoes restructing. FISA is disbanded and replaced by the FIA World Motor Sports Council which is subdivided into a number of specialist commissions.

Max Mosley elected FIA President.

1994

The deaths of Ratzenberger and Senna rocks the motor racing world. The Tamburello corner where Senna has his accident is modified. The FIA form the Expert Advisory Group to examine and recommend car and circuit safety. For the first time the FIA are involved in direct research and development of race car technology.

The drivers reform the GPDA which was in a moribund state from the early 1980s.

Karl Wendlinger suffers serious injuries at the Monaco GP in May and is an a coma for some time.

The Benetton team have a refueling fire during the German GP in June.

1995

Mika Hakkinen suffers serious injuries during practice for the Australian GP, Adelaide but makes a complete recovery to return to racing in 1996 and later becomes 1998 and 1999 World Champion.

1996

The organizers of the San Marino GP are fined US$1 million after a track invasion. US$250,000 was to be paid immediately with the remainder paid if any more track invasions occurred during 1997 or 1998 with a further threat of the race being removed from the calendar.

1997

Oliver Panis suffers two broken legs at the Canadian GP.

The UK government allow a reprieve for the use of tobacco sponsorship in F1. It is later revealed Bernie Ecclestone made a UK£1 million donation to the Labour Party which is returned in the ensuing press furore . The press also allege he donated an estimated UK£8 million to the Conservative Party from 1992 - 1997.

1999

Michael Schumacher suffers a broken leg at the British GP, Silverstone in June which keeps him out of racing until October.

2000

Italian fire marshall, Paolo Ghinslimberti recieves fatal injuries after being hit by debris from a multi-car accident during the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

2001

Australian marshal, Graham Beveridge is killed after being hit by debris after an accident involving Jacques Villeneuve and Ralf Schumacher at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.