Lauda Warns Fatal Accidents Could Still Happen in F1

The tragic accident of Formula 2 racer Henry Surtees during the race at Brands Hatch last weekend will be fully investigated by the championship officials, as confirmed by F2 boss Jonathan Palmer. The question everybody needs an answer for is, no doubt about it, how could the wheel & tire from Jack Clarke's car be separated from the chassis so easily.

It consequently entered the track and hit Surtees in a matter of seconds, causing him to lose consciousness and later crash into the barriers in the very next turn. Until the investigation will be complete, however, there are more and more voices pointing out to the possibility of Formula One also experiencing such accidents in the future.

Although the Great Circle has come a long way to securing the safety of its drivers – masterwork of FIA president Max Mosley – former 3-time F1 champion Niki Lauda expressed his belief that such accidents are seldom unavoidable, no matter the sport.

“There can always be accidents like that, also in Formula One. The safety standard in Formula One is very high, no question, but we should not be dazzled by that. As a racing driver and a father it is very clear to me that motor sport is dangerous,” said Lauda in an interview with Germany's Sport Bild, as he found out about Surtees accident via a text message from his own son Mathias, currently racing in the DTM series.

Lauda himself nearly lost his life in a Formula One suit, while driving in the 1976 German Grand Prix, at the Nurburgring. His car was involved in a heavy crash during the race and burst into flames, and it was thanks to the efforts of 4 drivers – Arturo Merzario, Guy Edwards, Harald Ertl and Brett Lunger – that he was pulled from his car.

The F2 cars are currently being designed by Williams F1, based on the F1 machineries back in 2005 (which, at the time, was compliant with all FIA tests and safety standards).