Remembering Sid Watkins

Sid Watkins

 (6 September 1928 - 12 September 2012)

Last week came the sad news that the long time FIA Medical Delegate, Professor Sid Watkins had left us. From 1978 to 2004, Watkins made a significant contribution to the improvement of safety in Formula One and made his mark as an immensely likeable man whom the sport admired.

 

Watkins was personally appointed as the official Formula One doctor in 1978, this was during the era that medical facilities present at a Grand Prix were of poor quality; a fine example came just weeks after Watkins arrival, at the 1978 Italian Grand Prix where Swedish driver Ronnie Peterson suffered a fatal accident. It was here that Watkins began to make his presence felt, he demanded that Bernie Ecclestone should provide a much higher standard of safety equipment, an anaesthetist, a medical car and a medical helicopter would be present at Grand Prix events. This came into force at the very next race at Watkins Glen. Moreover, a medical car containing Watkins would follow the racing cars for the first lap of the race should an incident occur and help would be required. So this became the norm for every Grand Prix that has taken place ever since.
 

In 1982, Watkins proposals prevented another fatality in a season which had already witnessed the deaths of Gilles Villeneuve and Riccardo Paletti. Didier Pironi, formerly Villeneuve's Ferrari team mate suffered a violent accident at the ultra fast Hockenheim circuit in Germany. A much improved medical team resulted in Pironi receiving significantly better attention than the calamity seen at Monza four years previously. Although Pironi never raced in Formula One again, it was a sigh of relief that another Formula One death had been avoided. 

12 years later at the infamous 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, Brazilian driver Rubens Barrichello endured a violent accident during the Friday Qualifying session. He was knocked unconscious and his tongue was blocking his airway, medical teams treated him at the site of the crash, and he was quickly taken to the medical centre. Barrichello credits Watkins with saving his life.

Unfortunately that terrible weekend delivered what was perhaps Sid Watkins most poignant moment for which he is renowned for. He had formed a close friendship with legendary Brazilian driver, Ayrton Senna over the course of the three-time World Champion's career. In Saturday's Qualifying session, Austrian rookie driver Roland Ratzenberger crashed his Simtek Ford at the flat out Villeneuve corner at the Imola circuit, he succumbed to a basal skull fracture in hospital later that day. Watkins recalled in his memoirs that Senna was so distraught upon hearing the news of Ratzenberger's death that "he broke down and cried on my shoulder." Watkins ultimately tried to persuade Senna not to race the following day. He advised Senna to quit by saying, "What else do you need to do? You have been world champion three times, you are obviously the quickest driver. Give it up and let's go fishing," Senna responded, "Sid, there are certain things over which we have no control. I cannot quit, I have to go on."

Watkins and Senna, 30 April 1994

 The following day came the accident which claimed the life of Senna, Watkins attended to Senna trackside:

"He looked serene. I raised his eyelids and it was clear from his pupils that he had a massive brain injury. We lifted him from the cockpit and laid him on the ground. As we did, he sighed and, although I am not religious, I felt his spirit depart at that moment."

This accident again changed the face of safety in Formula One, and Watkins became chairman of newly formed FIA Expert Advisory Safety Committee.

18 months later, at 1995 Australian Grand Prix, Mika Hakkinen crashed heavily in the Friday Qualifying session. Watkins medical team arrived quickly on the scene and noticed that the Finn was bleeding profusely, Watkins performed an emergency cricothyroidotomy which saved his life. This accident underlined how much the medical assistance had improved since Watkins became the official FIA doctor.

Mika Hakkinen suffers a horrific accident, 10 November 1995.
The Flying Finn recovered to become World Champion in 1998 and 1999.

There has not been another fatality in Formula One since the tragic loss of Ayrton Senna. It is fitting that Watkins tireless efforts to making the sport safer earns him the enormous credit which he thoroughly deserves.