Roland Ratzenberger (4 July 1960 – 30 April 1994). He died during qualifying for the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, the same event at which three-time World Champion Ayrton Senna died the following day. Ratzenberger was killed during qualifying for the San Marino Grand Prix at the Imola circuit on Saturday 30 April 1994. He went off-track on the previous lap, damaging his front wing, but rather than come into the pits he continued since he was competing for the final grid spot. The high speed on the back straight, and therefore high downforce, finally broke the wing off, sending it under Ratzenberger’s car. His car failed to turn into the Villeneuve Corner and struck the outside wall at 195.68 mph (314.9 km/h) The day after Ratzenberger’s death,three-time world champion Ayrton Senna was killed in another accident that brought the sport of Formula One under international scrutiny. The double tragedy was marked before the start of the next race in Monaco,with the front row of the grid left empty and the two slots painted with a Brazilian and Austrian flag. When track officials examined the wreckage of Senna’s racing car,they found a furled Austrian flag. Senna had planned to raise it after the race,in honour of Ratzenberger.

Roland Ratzenberger (4 July 1960 – 30 April 1994). He died during qualifying for the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, the same event at which three-time World Champion Ayrton Senna died the following day. Ratzenberger was killed during qualifying for the San Marino Grand Prix at the Imola circuit on Saturday 30 April 1994. He went off-track on the previous lap, damaging his front wing, but rather than come into the pits he continued since he was competing for the final grid spot. The high speed on the back straight, and therefore high downforce, finally broke the wing off, sending it under Ratzenberger’s car. His car failed to turn into the Villeneuve Corner and struck the outside wall at 195.68 mph (314.9 km/h)

The day after Ratzenberger’s death,three-time world champion Ayrton Senna was killed in another accident that brought the sport of Formula One under international scrutiny. The double tragedy was marked before the start of the next race in Monaco,with the front row of the grid left empty and the two slots painted with a Brazilian and Austrian flag.

When track officials examined the wreckage of Senna’s racing car,they found a furled Austrian flag. Senna had planned to raise it after the race,in honour of Ratzenberger.