Professor Sid Watkins has left us

When the subject of safety in F1 is discussed, Ayrton Senna’s accident in 1994 is often considered a turning point for the discipline. The work done since the tragic passing of the triple Brazilian champion is impressive. The recent accident at Spa-Francorchamps was a clear testament to that. Former FIA President Max Mosley is frequently cited as the instigator of many measures taken to reduce the risk of reliving April 30 and May 1, 1994, but another man who has been important in this fight is Professor Sid Watkins. This iconic figure of Formula 1, perhaps less known to the general public, passed away yesterday at the age of 84.

Born in Liverpool in 1928 and graduated in medicine in 1956, Watkins conducted studies on the influence of stress on intellectual performance before specializing in neurosurgery in 1958. In 1961, he was part of the medical team during a Karting race at the Brands Hatch circuit but also served at Watkins Glen in his spare time.

It was in 1978 that he met Bernie Ecclestone and became the official doctor of F1, a role he held until 2004 when he passed the torch to [Gary Hartstein](https://www.f1.com/f1/actualite/12684-gary-hartstein-lhomme-qui-veille-sur-les-pilotes-.html), which did not prevent him from remaining involved in the sport as President of the FIA Institute – often cited today for its research on improving safety around the cockpit of single-seaters – until 2011. In 33 years, the man whom drivers used to call “Prof'” would have observed all the safety developments. The accidents of Mika Hakkinen in 1995, Robert Kubica in 2007, or Felipe Massa in 2009 would likely not have had the same outcome without the work of Sid Watkins.

In 33 years, Sid was also at the forefront of dramatic incidents such as the one in Zolder 1982, fatal to Gilles Villeneuve, or those of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna in Imola in 1994. The death of the Brazilian deeply affected the Briton who was close to the Williams driver. “I still think a lot about Ayrton. I dream about him, a lot. It’s one of the problems when you get old, you dream more. There are two or three people in my life who have greatly influenced me, my father, the neurosurgeon I hung out with in Oxford, and Senna, I dream about them constantly. I hate it because they’re then alive and well and when you wake up, you have to face the fact that they’re no longer there,” Watkins explained a few years ago.

The memory of “Prof” Sid Watkins was warmly honored by many drivers, whether from F1 or the lower categories.

« It was Sid Watkins who saved my life at Imola in 1994. A great man always smiling. Thank you for everything you’ve done for us drivers, » reacted Rubens Barrichello on Twitter.

Same sentiment for both McLaren drivers. Rest in peace Sid… Motorsport wouldn’t be what it is today without you. Thank you for everything you’ve done, as drivers we are grateful, wrote Jenson Button, while for Lewis Hamilton, it’s a sad day. Without his incredible contribution to the sport, our lives as drivers would be risky. My condolences to his family.

« RIP Professor Si Watkins. Great loss for everyone, in all categories. He did so much for us, thank you, » emphasizes Mitch Evans, the very recent GP3 champion, proof that Sid Watkins is an important figure in motorsport, no matter the generation.

An iconic figure, that’s what Ron Dennis remembers: « Today, the racing world has lost one of its greatest figures: Professor Sid Watkins. No, he wasn’t a driver, an engineer, or a designer. He was a doctor, and it’s probably true to say that he did more than anyone over many years to make F1 safer today. Many drivers owe him their lives thanks to his meticulous work that led to significant advances in the field of safety. But more than that, Sid was a close friend, and I will miss him dearly. »

Sid Watkins passed away at the age of 84, and it is now his turn to haunt the dreams of the many people for whom he was important throughout his journey and life.