31 years since the tragic death of Roland Ratzenberger

      For over 11 years, no one died in Formula 1 racing until the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. On Friday, 33-year-old Roland Ratzenberger got behind the wheel of Simtek to begin the third stage of his career in Formula 1.

      His car was not the fastest, as was the Austrian, who came to Formula 1 relatively late and did not even qualify at the first stage in Interlagos. But he was loved in the paddock as a man who made his childhood dream come true.

      On the same day, Ratzenberger watched Barrichello crash a car on the last winding stretch of the Imola highway. Rubens escaped with several injuries, and a day later, on April 30, during qualifying The San Marino Grand Prix, fate was not so kind to Ratzenberger.

      In the Villeneuve turn, he lost control of the car, which crashed into the wall at full speed. The sideways tilt of the head indicated the severity of the injuries. Formula 1 doctors unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate him.

      Ratzenberger died from his injuries, which plunged Formula 1 into deep mourning, but it was decided to continue the weekend.

      Just 24 hours later, the drivers started the Grand Prix. Ayrton Senna took the Austrian flag with him to wave after the finish line in memory of Ratzenberger, but that day he was gone.

      A few years ago, the racer's father, Rudolf Ratzenberger, recalled: "His first word was not "mom" or "dad," but "car." – I remember when Roland found out about the contract with Simtek, he immediately called his wife and, without hiding his joy, said: "Don't worry, Formula 1 is the safest racing championship in the world."

      On the day it all happened, my wife and I had just returned from Mexico, where we were on vacation. I was watching the broadcast, and my wife was in the kitchen. Suddenly, I saw the car being blown off the highway and it hit the wall. When I realized that it was Roland's car, I immediately felt that something irreparable had happened. Over time, the pain eased – time heals wounds...

      what would Roland be doing now if everything had turned out differently? He was good at languages and could lead people. I suppose he could make a good businessman. It makes me feel a little better to think that my son passed away happy – he fulfilled his dream."