F1 2026: British GP - Silverstone (July 5)

Spa Francorchamps F1 2026 topic:
F1 2026: Belgian GP - Spa-Francorchamps (July 19)

M5Rick wrote

Fantastic looking car.

Indeed. But I don't want to crash with those cars from the past ..
Head and shoulders are too much exposed .
So , It's no wonder that many drivers have lost their lives in accidents in the past.
May they RIP..

The legendary Belgian driver Jacky Ickx : It's a miracle that I survived (!)

///M Power-Belgium wrote

Indeed. But I don't want to crash with those cars from the past ..
Head and shoulders are too much exposed .
So , It's no wonder that many drivers have lost their lives in accidents in the past.
May they RIP..

The legendary Belgian driver Jacky Ickx : It's a miracle that I survived (!)

Ickx was indeed fortunate to have survived his history of racing especially in that non F1 Spa GT race where a seconds wrong decision led to disaster.
That said I admire the Lotus 97T for what it is and would jump at a chance to test drive it myself, with or without a halo

M5Rick wrote

///M Power-Belgium wrote

Indeed. But I don't want to crash with those cars from the past ..
Head and shoulders are too much exposed .
So , It's no wonder that many drivers have lost their lives in accidents in the past.
May they RIP..
The legendary Belgian driver Jacky Ickx : It's a miracle that I survived (!)

Ickx was indeed fortunate to have survived his history of racing especially in that non F1 Spa GT race where a seconds wrong decision led to disaster.
That said I admire the Lotus 97T for what it is and would jump at a chance to test drive it myself, with or without a halo

I guess you're referring to the fatal Stefan Bellof crash on Sep 1, 1985 at Eau Rouge - Spa. Only Ickx and Bellof know what really happened:
F1 2022: Belgian GP - Spa-Francorchamps (Aug 28) [#16]



To get you an idea about safety (or the lack of it) for F1 drivers, marshals and public, decades ago: 19 April 1970 – Jackie Oliver crashed into Jacky Ickx during the 1970 Spanish GP (Jarama). See how cars keep racing while both cars are stricken and on fire, extinguishing fire interrupted by passing cars, cars sliding over water and foam, public taking a look, etc. Insane in the light of today's safety protocols.

What happened: while negotiating the Curva Bugatti during the opening lap, the brakes of Jackie Oliver's BRM race car failed. The Brit saw no other way out than to throw his car on the grass at full speed. Inevitable crash with Jackie Ickx (Ferrari). Packed fuel tanks ripped open. Sea of fire. Subsequently, a frantic battle by fire fighters. Race continued. Fortunately, Oliver and Ickx walked away from the accident (Ickx was slightly burned after his race overalls became soaked in burning fuel, but managed to compete in the next GP raced in Monaco).

YouTube doesn't let me link the video "Formula 1 1970 Spanish GP | Fire and Drama at Jarama | Race Highlights" (featuring a testimonial by Oliver + also a furious Graham Hill denied to start the GP).

Artemis wrote

I guess you're referring to the fatal Stefan Bellof crash on Sep 1, 1985 at Eau Rouge - Spa. Only Ickx and Bellof know what really happened:
F1 2022: Belgian GP - Spa-Francorchamps (Aug 28) [#16]



To get you an idea about safety (or the lack of it) for F1 drivers, marshals and public, decades ago: 19 April 1970 – Jackie Oliver crashed into Jacky Ickx during the 1970 Spanish GP (Jarama). See how cars keep racing while both cars are stricken and on fire, extinguishing fire interrupted by passing cars, cars sliding over water and foam, public taking a look, etc. Insane in the light of today's safety protocols.

What happened: while negotiating the Curva Bugatti during the opening lap, the brakes of Jackie Oliver's BRM race car failed. The Brit saw no other way out than to throw his car on the grass at full speed. Inevitable crash with Jackie Ickx (Ferrari). Packed fuel tanks ripped open. Sea of fire. Subsequently, a frantic battle by fire fighters. Race continued. Fortunately, Oliver and Ickx walked away from the accident (Ickx was slightly burned after his race overalls became soaked in burning fuel, but managed to compete in the next GP raced in Monaco).

YouTube doesn't let me link the video "Formula 1 1970 Spanish GP | Fire and Drama at Jarama | Race Highlights" (featuring a testimonial by Oliver + also a furious Graham Hill denied to start the GP).

"Beware with aggressively challenging a main rival at his home race' says it all.
Bellof took a huge chance frustrated following Ickx and he must have known Ickx with the racing line and the natural drift to the left would come but he still went ahead. Both Ickx and Bellof were on the limit and from there on it entered that timeless zone where fate could take over.