RIP 🙏🏼❤ Martin Brain (1970) Piers Courage (1970) Jochen Rindt (1970) Jo Siffert (1971) Roger Williamson (1973) François Cevert (1973) Peter Revson (1974) Helmut Koinigg (1974) Mark Donohue (1975) Tom Pryce (1977) Jansen van Vuuren (1977) Brian McGuire (1977) Ronnie Peterson (1978)

Only real ones know that the thumbnail is from a group b pic Edit: thanks for 54 likes!! Edit2: 66? Thank you guys this is the most I’ve gotten ever

I know that you plucked the factoid about George Follmer being the oldest F1 rookie, but it's NOT like the man had been driving touring cars. He had competed in SCCA racing for the better part of a decade before his F1 debut, had driven the USAC Championship car series from 1967-71 (including 3 Indy 500s) winning once, and had spent 1972 driving Can-Am for Roger Penske winning that series (winning 5 of the 8 races he entered). For those not familiar with Can-Am - it was a closed-wheel/open cockpit series with fewer restrictions than F1 at that point in time; the Porsche 917/10 driven by Follmer had 850 hp in race trim (more in qualifying trim) so for him to come to F1 in 1973 wasn't like someone who barely drove got to jump in the car; it was a "lateral move" to go to a car with less horsepower but open wheel bodywork.

Today, it's been 30 years since Ayrton Senna da Silva perished at Imola. I still miss him and will never forget watching the live broadcast when he hit the wall. It's one of those images that you never get out of your head.

I watched my first F1 race in 1968 and enjoyed the 1970's racing. Brave men and dangerous circuits. Most races were in doubt until the last lap because mechanical failures were very common. I still think it was the best decade of racing, with the 80's turbo-era a close second. The deaths were horrible, but it added an element of danger that made the racing riveting. Am I glad that racing is infinitely safer these days? Of course. But racing is just not the same, only those of us who witnessed the old days in person and on TV can attest to that fact.

The insanity was even worse in the 50s and 60s before aluminium or fibreglass body panels/shells they sometimes used to use magnesium body panels! Also those older cars with those skinny hard treaded tyres still reached top speeds on the straights were much the same as the 70s cars, but by the 70s the big sticky tyres, wings and very low centre of gravity meant that in the 70s the lap records kept dropping as they could travel faster around the curves than in the 50s and 60s. The disc brakes used in the 70s are so much better than the drum brakes, and the lower weight of the cars meant that stopping distances were so much shorter, especially in the wet, so they were able to hold those top speeds for longer. Much of the safety of modern F1 is down to the tireless work of Jackie Stewart who the deaths of 57 drivers in the period he was racing, and he was insulted and attacked at the time for that work.

For every lethal accident there are plenty of near-misses. The usage of carbon fiber in the 1980s made the cars safer, but the reason nothing too serious happened in the late-1980s and early-1990s was chance. Imola 1994 was a real wake-up call. Still, even in the more modern times some accidents could easily have ended far worse. Just think of Liuzzi almost decapitating Schumacher in Abu Dhabi 2010 or the start of the 2012 Belgium Grand Prix. We now find it crazy the cars had no cockpit protection back then, but it would take Bianchi's life before the halo was introduced. Without halo we would very likely have lost a few more drivers.

An F1 car jumping at a rally stage in Fafe, Portugal, during the 80's, is not the best way present the video. Too bad we are way seeing too much of these clickbait thumbs.

The World has changed a lot. Back then the memory of young men dying flying bombers and fighter planes over enemy territory and other WW2 scenarios were still fresh in peoples' minds. The attitude of acceptance of danger and death took some time to dissipate.

Well done synopsis. Btw, you want to watch the haunting documentary of the 1973 season "One by One" (1974) aka "The Quick and the Dead" (re-released 1978), its truly a gut wrenching experience and difficult to watch with out tearing up.

If they were to race those 1970s cars in bad rain then that's it 💀

Remember that there was a time when there was NO wall between the track and the pits. A time when there was no actual pit lane, but just a widening of the track.

Sorry to those who have already seen the video, but I had to reupload it due to issues with the previous one.

I remember Niki Lauda's crash that was the first F1 race for me as a kid about 5 or 6. Been a F1 fan from that day.

Follmer drove a Shadow. Arrows did not exist in 1973. They broke away from Shadow end of 1977.

There were two main problems with 1970s F1 cars. First, they were just very fragile and disintegrated very well due any impact. . McLaren built the very strong and safe bodies for their cars from 60s onwards. Thats why McLarens have been the most safe F1 cars all the time. Second, their fuel tanks were mostly besides the driver, not behind the driver (like later). Every side crash caused explosion. Lotus 72 and McLaren M23 had fuel tank behind the driver and it wasn`t so dangerous.

Thank God for Sir Jackie Stewart's campaign for safety improvements in racing.

Great video but the Jochen Rindt tragedy wasn't just "the car breaking into pieces" a lot of drivers back then was afraid of being trapped in their cars in case a fire breaks out so Rindt only wore 5 out of the 6 harnesses on his belts (the strap from the torso down) to get out of the car easily but when he had his fatal crash at Monza in 1970 during the crash he slid forward and down in his seat and because he didn't wear the bottom strap on his harness his neck got slit by the harness buckle and he became the only driver in all of motorsports to this day to win a championship posthumously so fear of being burned alive did that, plus he didn't like driving Colin Chapman's newer Lotus too.

The '60s and '70s were a very different time. I started work in the building trades in the early 70s. There was little to no safety on job sites back then. Nothing like today's rules and safety equipment. We had a Man Up and Get R Done mentality back then. I remember many thought Jackie Stewart a coward. I understand now we were wrong and made our companies wealthy. But that was the time

"Now a days drivers start using Karts when they are 3-4 years old." Uhh, they have been using Karts to learn their skills for more than 50 years! This practice is nothing new.

remenber when the cars took flight? but the cars were driven manual gears it was a risc but what a thrill. I was only a rallye driver in the 70´s but it makes one feel alive due to the near death experienced several times and when the car jumped and we only saw people when the car dive, somehow in seconds they disapear but the heart in your mouth feeling stays, i´m talking about Portugal in the north, mountain gravel roads with a sea of people everywhere, my escort RS1600 was hard never broke ,still have it at home

No formula 1 fan wants drivers to die on a regular basis, racing... You're sitting around watching the race with your friends or family and all of a sudden see a death. Nobody wants that

More than 3 have died since the 1970s if you include Maria De Vilotta and Jules Bianchi. They both died later as a result of injuries sustained in an F1 car.

You gave him some credit, but I don't think you gave Jackie Stewart the credit he deserves.

Back when death by crash had a yearly expectancy at least 1 driver per year.

That most horrific death you mentioned was of Roger Williamson, not Roger Williams.

Formula One has simply gone insane. Not regarding safety - they have made tremendous strides forward in that, thank goodness. But, the endless, mad rush toward speed at all costs...coupled with reliance on technology to fix everything...is just crazy. Formula One was about the greatest driver(s) in the world. Now, it is about technology uber alles...as if tech is something to be worshipped. Bloody twaddle. This is why my favorite era in F1 was the early 60's, during the 1.5 litre Formula. Then, it was really about DRIVING- being smooth and precise - because one didn't have much brute force upon which to rely. Granted, the cars were NOT safe. But, at least it was about FINESSE. Now, it's only about brute force, combined with space program-like reliance on "blessed" technology.

I actually got into F1 in the 60s, but the 70s had great moments. The worst part was the shortening of tracks.

The FIA and eccelson didn't care Jackie Stewart had to campaign for years for basic improvement like doctor and medical facilities

Ayrton Senna 1st of May, 1994. Imola.

The Price / track worker crash was ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC.

"The cars are too big, the cars are too heavy, the rules destroy the sport" No, it ensures the driver has a chance of survival in case of mayhem.

Tom Pryces' death was probably the most senseless F1 has ever witnessed

many drivers of the 70s were amateurs, many started racing at 18, there wasn't the same technical preparation as those of today. a driver today arrives in F1 with at least 15 years of experience.

RIP everyone who died in F1!

On the list of the deaths in the last 30 years you forgot Senna.... (3:17)

70's F1 was so crazy because the decade was very crazy too, with a lot of sex, drugs and rock super bands and everybody believed he was a superman. However many f1 drivers fought to turn more safe the 70's f1 already at that time, and the street tracks were forbidden and safer tracks such Paul Ricard were built. Nowadays the tendency is to forget the improvements of the 70's and to come back to the dangerous street tracks such Albert Park.

3:14 this is what happens when you don't check what A.I. generated for you. Maria de Villota died from cardiac arrest in her hotel room, yet the list misses probably the most famous death in F1 history, Ayrton Senna.

No one was even injured due the notorious Jody Schecter crash 1:35. McLarens were über-safe even those days.

I just want to say thank you to Lance Stroll for continuously putting the FIA safety standards to test in every race

Bangladeshi roads in 2024 are still less safe than those F1 in the 70s. They way those bus drivers overtake, the lack of seatbelt, airbags etc in cars plus putting bullbars for disabling crumple zones all add up to a very unsafe traveling experience. Writing with an injured thumb. There are other more serious injuries but the finger is touching the keypad so yeah. I hope to see a safer system worldwide.

If we still had the 70's safety standards and safety consciousness today, most of the drivers on the current grid would either be dead or have permanent injuries preventing them from driving. If we had the safety technology of the 70's but the safety consciousness and exoectations of today, the cars would ve limited to 50hp and several tracks from the current calendar would be downright banned

Thought I was going insane until I saw you say it's a repost lol still going to watch

And yet George Folmer is considered one of the Fastest Can Am drivers period. That was at a time when Can Am was definitely faster than F1.

Nice vid Mate! These past guys are heroes surrounded by idiots, uncompetents and gridy slow learner... You should do one on the motorbike too " Continental Circus". Safety first for sure and if some find watching races boring, they can go on any track (tracks not road) and try there chance against the chrono...

Mankind always learns the hard way...

"nice" clickbait thumbnail , F1 car doing an iconic rally jump.

Interesting clip on the Lauda crash. Looks an awful lot like footage from the film Rush.

Why that thumbnail man

You spent far too little time discussing the contributions of Jackie Stewart for fighting for the lives of the drivers of Formula One. He organized driver boycotts at some circuits to force removal of demonstrative safety issues. He did that in Can Am having a large tree removed from the run off area of a turn by getting the drivers to boycott the Sunday race. The tree was removed and was the site of a major two car accident that would have more than likely killed the two drivers if the race had been held with that tree in place. He was also instrumental in the development and forced adoption of safety helmets and fire suits. The race organization, owners and builders had zero interest in the safety of the drivers. They nearly considered them disposable. Stewart fought hard to change that. We all have a favorite driver. John Young 'Jackie' Steward is mine.

Also, Le Mans 1955. Not the same series but a great example of performance far exceeding safety standards. You know what I'd love to see? A race series on special tracks with extreme barriers to protect spectators with cars that have no limits to performance or technology with remote controls operated by what is essentially a sim rig. Aside from cost, the only concern I have would be interference with (deliberate or not) and even deliberate interception of signals which could cause loss of control and present a means for cheating.

Were there any F1 drivers who came from illegal street racing, moonshine running, or the hot rod scene as a whole?

single greatest thumbnail ever...almost made me spit out my drink lmao

2:32 who in their right mind would run across the race track in the middle of race?!

A lot of things are correct for a short video, but the deeper you go, the more often you are wrong and you quote random facts to the previously stated thesis. Johen Rindt's example, this car was designed with aero in mind, and for the monza they removed the spoilers to have less aerodynamic drag, the car was mega unstable because it was not how it was conceptualized, e.g. his teammate did not want to drive this configuration - you are right that safety was not something they were worried about, but why did the accident happen? Here the sequence of events and logic already contradict BTW lighter cars today may be safer than what we have, before 2010 they weighed less than 600 kg. The impact force and subsequent effects are due to kinetic energy and momentum, mass here does not help, just the opposite

NASCAR once allowed drivers to do engine repairs on the track while the race went on around them

love the thumbnail. brilliant

In the 50's only 300HP, but the weight of the car: 500kg

I like the Group B thumbnail lmao

i remenber the team of Gil Villeneuve and Didier Pironni(or similar)from Ferrari and after GIl´s death in the training laps with a horrible footage and later they gave to the circuit in Canada is Name and his son was already a F1 driver but the first race with his name given to the circuit at the start and in a sunday at night as it was in Canada and iwas in Europe a car burst in flames at the start i think all world looked horrified when one pilot got stucked in the car ,some stoped to help and other from the pits runned to aid also but they couldn´t take him from the car and it seems lots of time when smoke appeared but none could take him from the car, and when the smoke envolved the car tbhe pilots ans mechanics were still at the risck of their own lifes trying to take him out but then falmes appeared and some that were there even had burns but all saw him die burned on live tv, the most terrific footage i saw live and thousands of persons in all the world, Didier also left the F1 race and started to race with speed boats also died in a crash with the boat after leaving F1 that was too dangerous, this all already in the 80´s

i love your content😁

Great Video as always

I'm not sure where you sourced the visual at 3:13 (list of drivers killed in F1) but a HUGE omission was Ayrton Senna.

Ridiculous to blur out the images.

25 drivers start every season in formula 1, and each year 2 us die. -Niki Lauda

I believe it was Roger Williamson.

It's hard to watch this visually. So much is blurred and editing is such a constant borage of short blips that it's almost nauseating

It's a good thing that Forghieri was designing Ferraris rather than Enzo, if the quote about aero is accurate. Ferrari actually fitted the first free standing rear wing in F1 at the 1968 Dutch GP.

to be fair to Lance Stroll ,.. he HAS contributed a lot over his career for the FIA to study in reference to crash data

If you really want to highlight the dangers of the former F1 years, don’t Blur them. We viewers are no minors.

Finally... I missed your voice man😂😂

Races back in the day were way better , if a bad accident happened they would barely put a yellow flag and kept racing , nowadays is awful, the smallest fender bender and they put a 2 hour red flag , I liked the old days much better

thank you so much for blurring senna's crash

The greatest age in Formula 1. Hands down

Safety safety safety. How sterile it has all become.

Anyone know whats going at 2:32 I know that this isn't the 77 tragedy, but still this is very scary

Why is it blurry? Is that on purpose?

that´s when men were men, i loved it,never lost a race on tv and before i would think, who is going to die? but at least not in every race, but i remenber later in Monaco when the gasoline begun to be limited ,only a guy driving slowly arrived to the finish in first place but he was stopping along the way to give a lift to all pilots asking with the finger ,he arrived with a lot of pilots on top of the car, very slow

It really is pretty amazing that SO FEW drivers died in the 70s. RIP. True gladiators, all!

I know you needed a text for your video, but the 50s were equally horrible, and in the 50s there were many crashes that took out large numbers of spectators.

I was a big fan. Then I didn't watch for about 20 years because of the fatalities.

chapman lotus wasn't a safe car, ask jim clark

Safety one of the few great things about modern motorsports. But, there are some trade offs that have to be made. The cars will probably never be small again. Also, they look a bit too innocent. Which leads to next: F1 has a too innocent of an image around it. Idk if this is 100% because of the safety, but i just can't look at f1 like something fierce and raw, when the internet is full of driver memes. Again, not all of this is because of safety, modern internet culture plays its part, but you can't make memes about 70s drivers either other than how big their balls were. And last, imo fia exagerates sometimes. Yes, having stuff like the safety cell and halo are musts at this point, but you can't red flag races becuase there's water on the track. It should only be red flagged when you can't see 10 feet down the road and can't put half the power down in 7th gear, not when there's spray on the track.

Driver '' are you sure we need all 4 wheels?

Imagine Lance Stroll racing in the 70s

Ferrari's statement was not ridicolous at all. At the times when there were no regulations who cared about aerodynamic? A powerful engines could have compansated any extra drag very well.

my dream was to drive a car in the 24hours Lemans

Not Roger Williams but Roger Williamson.

As a long time racing fan, the pit speed limit still seems odd to me. It's obviously important for safety, but it's also a lot less exciting.

Circuit, not track. A track is an oval!

If it weren’t for the FIAs regulations on driver safety we would’ve probably lost Fernando Alonso in 2016 as well

Is that Gordon Murray at the drawing board 4.41

That’s when it was real racing. Today is too safe, it’s boring. Bring back manual gear changes with a clutch pedal. No traction control either. F-1 sux since Lauda, and Stewart have retired

At the beginning he talks about only having 300 horsepower but when you have hard rubber tires that are only 5 and 1/2 in wide at the best it's like having a thousand horsepower you don't understand there was no traction control no ABS brakes were drum and they locked up frequently under heat I would take any driver from back then against any driver now in a new car and I would give him the advantage ☝️

I laughed so hard here lol 3:21

Psvita is also easy to mod.

Was the Indy safer?

Horrifying

man, thank you for removing the footage of the 1977 south Africa accident

Enzo Ferrari such a savage. Love the guy