F1 champion Ayrton Senna remembered on Imola track 30 years after his death during the San Marino GP
F1 champion Ayrton Senna remembered on Imola track 30 years after his death during the San Marino GP
Fans gather at the burial site of late Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna to mark the 30th anniversary of his death, at Morumbi cemetery in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The three-time F1 world champion died in a crash at the Imola race track in San Marino. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
FILE - Prince Albert of Monaco, left, applauds Brazil’s Ayrton Senna, center, winner of the Monaco formula One grand prix ahead of Prost, right, on the podium in Monaco Sunday, May 7, 1989. The 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death is commemorated with a memorial on the Imola track where he crashed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Gilbert Tourte, File)
A fan kneels at the burial site of late Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna as fans gather to mark the 30th anniversary of his death, at Morumbi cemetery in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The three-time F1 world champion died in a crash at the Imola race track in San Marino. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
FILE - Pictures of late Brazilian race car driver Ayrton Senna hangs on the the corner where he was died, during the third practice session ahead of Sunday’s Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari racetrack, in Imola, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. The 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death is commemorated on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, with a memorial on the Imola track where he crashed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. (Jennifer Lorenzini, Pool via AP, File)
A fan visits the burial site of late Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna on the 30th anniversary of his death, at Morumbi cemetery in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The three-time F1 world champion died in a crash at the Imola race track in San Marino. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
FILE- Race officials run toward Brazil’s Aytron Senna after he crashed with his Williams-Renault during the San Marino F-1 Grand Prix in Imola Sunday May 1, 1994. The 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death is commemorated on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, with a memorial on the Imola track where he crashed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger sits unconcious in his Simtek Ford after he crashed during the qualifying session for the Marino F 1 Grand prix in Imola Saturday April 30, 1994. Ratzenberger died later. The 30th anniversary of three-time F1 champion Ayrton Senna’s death is being commemorated with a memorial on the Imola track where he crashed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali is to be joined Wednesday, May 1, 2024, by politicians from Brazil and Italy, plus a representative from Austria to also recall fellow Formula One driver Roland Ratzenberger, who died a day earlier during qualifying. (AP Photo, File)
FILE - Italy’s Nicola Larini, left, holds his head and Germany’s Michael Schumacher, right, wipes a tear from his eyes while talking with Benetton director-general Flavio Briatore, center, on the podium following the San Marino Formula One Grand Prix crash in Imola, Italy, May 1, 1994. The drivers were reacting to the news that the Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna was in critical condition at a Bologna hospital after a crash in the race. Later it was announced that Senna had died after suffering severe head injuries. (AP-Photo/Claudio Luffoli, File)
FILE- In this TV image, rescue crew members give first aid to unconscious formula one driver Ayrton Senna, lying mortally injured, beside his wrecked car after the Brazillian driver crashed against the course wall during the Grand Prix of San Marino, in this file photo dated Sunday May 1, 1994, in Imola, Italy. The 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death is commemorated on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, with a memorial on the Imola track where he crashed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - A scarf has been placed on a statue of Brazilian race car driver Ayrton Senna ahead of Sunday’s Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at the Dino and Enzo Ferrari racetrack, in Imola, Italy, Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. The 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death is commemorated on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, with a memorial on the Imola track where he crashed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
Fans gather at the burial site of late Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna to mark the 30th anniversary of his death, at Morumbi cemetery in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The three-time F1 world champion died in a crash at the Imola race track in San Marino. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Fans gather at the burial site of late Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna to mark the 30th anniversary of his death, at Morumbi cemetery in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The three-time F1 world champion died in a crash at the Imola race track in San Marino. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
FILE - Prince Albert of Monaco, left, applauds Brazil’s Ayrton Senna, center, winner of the Monaco formula One grand prix ahead of Prost, right, on the podium in Monaco Sunday, May 7, 1989. The 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death is commemorated with a memorial on the Imola track where he crashed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Gilbert Tourte, File)
FILE - Prince Albert of Monaco, left, applauds Brazil’s Ayrton Senna, center, winner of the Monaco formula One grand prix ahead of Prost, right, on the podium in Monaco Sunday, May 7, 1989. The 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death is commemorated with a memorial on the Imola track where he crashed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Gilbert Tourte, File)
A fan kneels at the burial site of late Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna as fans gather to mark the 30th anniversary of his death, at Morumbi cemetery in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The three-time F1 world champion died in a crash at the Imola race track in San Marino. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
A fan kneels at the burial site of late Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna as fans gather to mark the 30th anniversary of his death, at Morumbi cemetery in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The three-time F1 world champion died in a crash at the Imola race track in San Marino. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
FILE - Pictures of late Brazilian race car driver Ayrton Senna hangs on the the corner where he was died, during the third practice session ahead of Sunday’s Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari racetrack, in Imola, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. The 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death is commemorated on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, with a memorial on the Imola track where he crashed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. (Jennifer Lorenzini, Pool via AP, File)
FILE - Pictures of late Brazilian race car driver Ayrton Senna hangs on the the corner where he was died, during the third practice session ahead of Sunday’s Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari racetrack, in Imola, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. The 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death is commemorated on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, with a memorial on the Imola track where he crashed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. (Jennifer Lorenzini, Pool via AP, File)
A fan visits the burial site of late Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna on the 30th anniversary of his death, at Morumbi cemetery in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The three-time F1 world champion died in a crash at the Imola race track in San Marino. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
A fan visits the burial site of late Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna on the 30th anniversary of his death, at Morumbi cemetery in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The three-time F1 world champion died in a crash at the Imola race track in San Marino. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
FILE- Race officials run toward Brazil’s Aytron Senna after he crashed with his Williams-Renault during the San Marino F-1 Grand Prix in Imola Sunday May 1, 1994. The 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death is commemorated on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, with a memorial on the Imola track where he crashed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. (AP Photo/File)
FILE- Race officials run toward Brazil’s Aytron Senna after he crashed with his Williams-Renault during the San Marino F-1 Grand Prix in Imola Sunday May 1, 1994. The 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death is commemorated on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, with a memorial on the Imola track where he crashed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger sits unconcious in his Simtek Ford after he crashed during the qualifying session for the Marino F 1 Grand prix in Imola Saturday April 30, 1994. Ratzenberger died later. The 30th anniversary of three-time F1 champion Ayrton Senna’s death is being commemorated with a memorial on the Imola track where he crashed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali is to be joined Wednesday, May 1, 2024, by politicians from Brazil and Italy, plus a representative from Austria to also recall fellow Formula One driver Roland Ratzenberger, who died a day earlier during qualifying. (AP Photo, File)
FILE - Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger sits unconcious in his Simtek Ford after he crashed during the qualifying session for the Marino F 1 Grand prix in Imola Saturday April 30, 1994. Ratzenberger died later. The 30th anniversary of three-time F1 champion Ayrton Senna’s death is being commemorated with a memorial on the Imola track where he crashed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali is to be joined Wednesday, May 1, 2024, by politicians from Brazil and Italy, plus a representative from Austria to also recall fellow Formula One driver Roland Ratzenberger, who died a day earlier during qualifying. (AP Photo, File)
FILE - Italy’s Nicola Larini, left, holds his head and Germany’s Michael Schumacher, right, wipes a tear from his eyes while talking with Benetton director-general Flavio Briatore, center, on the podium following the San Marino Formula One Grand Prix crash in Imola, Italy, May 1, 1994. The drivers were reacting to the news that the Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna was in critical condition at a Bologna hospital after a crash in the race. Later it was announced that Senna had died after suffering severe head injuries. (AP-Photo/Claudio Luffoli, File)
FILE - Italy’s Nicola Larini, left, holds his head and Germany’s Michael Schumacher, right, wipes a tear from his eyes while talking with Benetton director-general Flavio Briatore, center, on the podium following the San Marino Formula One Grand Prix crash in Imola, Italy, May 1, 1994. The drivers were reacting to the news that the Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna was in critical condition at a Bologna hospital after a crash in the race. Later it was announced that Senna had died after suffering severe head injuries. (AP-Photo/Claudio Luffoli, File)
FILE- In this TV image, rescue crew members give first aid to unconscious formula one driver Ayrton Senna, lying mortally injured, beside his wrecked car after the Brazillian driver crashed against the course wall during the Grand Prix of San Marino, in this file photo dated Sunday May 1, 1994, in Imola, Italy. The 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death is commemorated on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, with a memorial on the Imola track where he crashed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. (AP Photo/File)
FILE- In this TV image, rescue crew members give first aid to unconscious formula one driver Ayrton Senna, lying mortally injured, beside his wrecked car after the Brazillian driver crashed against the course wall during the Grand Prix of San Marino, in this file photo dated Sunday May 1, 1994, in Imola, Italy. The 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death is commemorated on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, with a memorial on the Imola track where he crashed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - A scarf has been placed on a statue of Brazilian race car driver Ayrton Senna ahead of Sunday’s Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at the Dino and Enzo Ferrari racetrack, in Imola, Italy, Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. The 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death is commemorated on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, with a memorial on the Imola track where he crashed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
FILE - A scarf has been placed on a statue of Brazilian race car driver Ayrton Senna ahead of Sunday’s Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at the Dino and Enzo Ferrari racetrack, in Imola, Italy, Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. The 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death is commemorated on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, with a memorial on the Imola track where he crashed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
IMOLA, Italy (AP) — The 30th anniversary of three-time F1 champion Ayrton Senna’s death was commemorated Wednesday with a memorial on the Imola track where he crashed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali was joined Wednesday by hundreds of fans, politicians from Brazil and Italy, plus a representative from Austria to also recall fellow Formula One driver Roland Ratzenberger, who died a day earlier during qualifying.
At 2:17 p.m. (1217 GMT), a minute of silence was held and flowers laid down at the Tamburello curve to observe the exact time and place that the 34-year-old Senna crashed into a concrete wall at about 300 kph (185 mph).
Then flowers were also laid down at the Villeneuve corner only slightly further down the track where the 33-year-old Ratzenberger crashed.
Senna, the Brazilian driver who won F1 titles in 1988, 1990 and 1991, was leading the race in Imola when he crashed.
Ratzenberger was an F1 rookie from Austria.
“They are part of sports history and history in general for what they represented,” Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said.
The attention around Senna’s death brought about safety improvements at the Imola track and throughout F1, resulting in shorter straights, more room around dangerous turns and less powerful engines.
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