Who is the most recent driver death in Formula 1?

Jules Bianchi is the most recent Formula 1 driver to die from injuries sustained in an F1 incident; he passed away on 17 July 2015, nine months after suffering severe head injuries in a crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. As of October 2025, no F1 race driver has died in a Grand Prix weekend or from injuries sustained in one since Bianchi.

What happened at Suzuka in 2014

Bianchi’s crash occurred on lap 43 of the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka on 5 October 2014, amid heavy rain, standing water, and fading light as Typhoon Phanfone approached. At the Dunlop Curve (Turn 7), his Marussia slid off the circuit under double waved yellow flags and collided with a trackside recovery vehicle attending Adrian Sutil’s stricken Sauber. Bianchi suffered a diffuse axonal injury and underwent emergency surgery at Mie General Hospital in Yokkaichi before being transferred to Nice University Hospital in France, where he remained in a coma until his death at age 25.

Key details about Bianchi and the incident

The following points summarize the essential facts of the crash and its aftermath, providing a concise reference for dates, locations, and context.

• Driver: Jules Bianchi (Marussia F1 Team), a Ferrari Driver Academy prospect
• Accident date and location: 5 October 2014, Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka (Dunlop Curve)
• Injuries: Severe head trauma (diffuse axonal injury)
• Medical timeline: Emergency surgery in Japan; transferred in November 2014 to Nice, France
• Date of death: 17 July 2015, in Nice, aged 25
• Historical context: First F1 driver to die from Grand Prix weekend injuries since Ayrton Senna (1994)

Together, these facts establish why Bianchi’s loss remains a defining moment in modern F1 safety history and why he is the most recent driver to have died from an F1 event-related injury.

Safety changes that followed

Bianchi’s accident triggered a broad tightening of procedures, equipment, and race control protocols, many of which continue to shape how Formula 1 manages risk—especially in poor visibility and during recoveries.

1. 2015: Introduction of the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) to enforce controlled speeds through incident zones without deploying the full Safety Car.
2. 2015–2016: Stricter rules on the deployment of recovery vehicles; greater separation between live cars and trackside equipment, and clearer guidance for double waved yellows.
3. 2017–2018: Development and mandatory adoption of the halo cockpit protection device (from 2018), which has since proven decisive in multiple serious incidents.
4. 2018 onward: Enhanced barrier standards and circuit runoff reviews, with special scrutiny on high-speed, low-visibility sections.
5. 2022–2023: Post-Suzuka 2022 review further tightened recovery protocols in wet/low-visibility conditions, improved communication and delta-time enforcement, and refined race control procedures.
6. 2023–2025: Ongoing FIA “wet-weather visibility” workstreams, including spray-reduction trials and wet-tyre development, to improve safety margins when water spray and darkness impair driver vision.

While no system can eliminate risk, these measures significantly reduce exposure to the specific hazards that contributed to Bianchi’s crash and improve drivers’ protection when incidents occur.

Context within F1’s safety record

Before Bianchi, the last F1 driver fatalities during a Grand Prix weekend were Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna at Imola in 1994, a tragedy that sparked sweeping reforms spanning car construction, cockpit design, and circuit safety. More recently, Anthoine Hubert’s death at Spa in 2019 occurred in Formula 2, the primary F1 feeder series, underscoring that high-speed single-seater racing continues to carry inherent risks even as top-tier safety standards advance.

Why the distinction matters

Fans sometimes conflate F1 and its support categories, but the record is clear: Bianchi remains the most recent Formula 1 driver to die from injuries related to an F1 event, and his legacy is directly reflected in systems like the halo and VSC that are now part of the sport’s safety fabric.

Summary

Jules Bianchi is the most recent F1 driver to die from race-related injuries, passing away on 17 July 2015 after his 2014 Suzuka crash. His death catalyzed key safety reforms—most notably the Virtual Safety Car and the halo—that continue to define modern Formula 1’s approach to risk, particularly in poor visibility and during on-track recoveries. As of October 2025, no subsequent F1 driver fatality has occurred.

Which former F1 driver died recently?

The last driver to die in a Formula 1 World Championship event was Jules Bianchi in 2015, following injuries from a crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. Recently, former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan died in March 2025 at the age of 76. 
Recent Deaths 

• Eddie Jordan: (March 2025): The former F1 team owner and media personality passed away at 76.

Historical Driver Fatality 

• Jules Bianchi: (2015): The last Formula 1 driver to die from injuries sustained during a World Championship event. He was involved in a fatal accident at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.

Other Notable Deaths 

• Anthoine Hubert: (2019): A Formula 2 driver whose fatal crash at the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix led to significant safety improvements in Formula 1.

Important Distinction
It’s important to distinguish between fatalities in the Formula 1 World Championship and those that occurred in other racing categories, such as Formula 2, or in different events using older F1 cars. Jules Bianchi remains the most recent driver fatality within the F1 World Championship.

Is number 69 banned in F1?

Yes, a Formula 1 driver can technically choose the number 69, as the rules allow any number between 2 and 99 for a driver’s permanent career number, with only the number 1 being reserved for the reigning World Champion. However, since the permanent number system was introduced in 2014, no driver has chosen the number 69, and it remains available for use, though it’s not a commonly selected number.
 
Here are the rules for F1 driver numbers:

• Number 1: Reserved for the reigning World Champion. 
• Other Numbers: Drivers can choose any number from 2 to 99 for their career, which is then permanently theirs. 
• Availability: Numbers are chosen based on availability, with no two drivers having the same permanent number. 
• Reserved Numbers: If a driver retires or leaves the sport, their number is reserved for two seasons to prevent others from taking it. 
• Unchosen Numbers: If a driver does not choose a number, one is assigned based on their team’s historical entry. 
• Number 17: This number is not used as a mark of respect for Jules Bianchi. 

Since there’s no rule banning number 69 and it’s within the allowed range, a driver could pick it if they wish, provided another driver hasn’t already claimed it.

Why is number 17 banned in F1?

Number 17 is not banned but permanently retired in Formula 1 as a mark of respect for Jules Bianchi, a French driver who died in 2015 from injuries sustained in a crash during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. Bianchi was using car number 17 when the accident occurred, and the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) permanently retired the number from use in the championship in his memory.
 
Background

• Jules Bianchi’s accident: Opens in new tabIn October 2014, Jules Bianchi suffered a tragic accident at the Japanese Grand Prix, colliding with a recovery vehicle during heavy rain. 
• Fatal injuries: Opens in new tabHe sustained severe head injuries in the crash and passed away the following year. 
• Retirement of number 17: Opens in new tabAs a solemn tribute to the driver and to honor his memory, the FIA officially retired car number 17 in 2015. 

Significance

• Permanent reminder: The permanent retirement of number 17 serves as a somber reminder of the risks inherent in motorsport. 
• Legacy of safety improvements: Bianchi’s accident was a catalyst for significant safety advancements in Formula 1, including the mandatory halo cockpit protection system. 

(function(){
(this||self).Bqpk9e=function(f,d,n,e,k,p){var g=document.getElementById(f);if(g&&(g.offsetWidth!==0||g.offsetHeight!==0)){var l=g.querySelector(“div”),h=l.querySelector(“div”),a=0;f=Math.max(l.scrollWidth-l.offsetWidth,0);if(d>0&&(h=h.children,a=h[d].offsetLeft-h[0].offsetLeft,e)){for(var m=a=0;m

What was the last death in Formula 1?

The last fatal accident in a Formula 1 World Championship race was Jules Bianchi’s collision with a recovery vehicle at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix, resulting in serious injuries that led to his death in July 2015. Bianchi’s tragic accident prompted significant safety improvements in motorsport, including the introduction of the Halo cockpit protection device.
 
Details of the incident

• Date: October 5, 2014 
• Event: 2014 Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit 
• Cause: Bianchi’s car aquaplaned in heavy rain, veering off track and colliding with a recovery crane that was removing another car that had crashed. 
• Injuries: He sustained a severe diffuse axonal injury and was in a medically induced coma before his death nine months later. 

Legacy and safety improvements

• Halo device: The FIA mandated the Halo device for use in all Formula 1 and open-wheel championships from 2018, a direct result of Bianchi’s accident. 
• Virtual Safety Car: Other measures, like the virtual safety car system, were also introduced to enhance safety during races. 
• Retired Car Number: In honor of Bianchi, the number 17 was retired from Formula 1.