Ayrton Senna’s final words to Sid Watkins foreshadowed F1 icon’s fatal crash at Imola

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The 1994 San Marino Grand Prix was one of the darkest times in Formula 1 history as Roland Ratzenberger and three-time champion Ayrton Senna died on successive days.

Austrian rookie Ratzenberger lost his life after a 500G impact with an exposed concrete wall during qualifying at the Villeneuve kink. His death hit Senna hard and the Brazilian took with him an Austrian flag inside his Williams car to wave after the race in Ratzenberger’s memory.

But Senna would not get a chance to wave it, and the flag was only discovered after his fatal crash during the San Marino GP. Formula 1 lost one of its most captivating characters at just 34 when Senna struck the wall at Tamburello at 131mph after leaving the circuit at 192mph.

Ayrton Senna told Sid Watkins ‘I cannot quit’ F1 the day before his fatal crash at Imola

Professor Sid Watkins – who was Formula 1’s first full-time doctor and the medical delegate – tried to rescue both, Senna and Ratzenberger. Senna was even a family friend of Watkins, who the legendary son of Sao Paulo looked to as a father figure and he completely trusted.

Watkins and Senna built a special relationship due to the latter’s desire to go out of his way to ask medical questions and show a duty of care for his other drivers. So, after seeing how devastated Senna was following Ratzenberger’s death, Watkins asked him to retire from F1.

“What else do you need to do?” Watkins asked Senna. “You have been the world champion three times, you are obviously the quickest driver. Give it up and let’s go fishing.”

READ MORE: All to know about Ayrton Senna including Alain Prost rivalry and Imola crash

But Senna was not ready to hang up his gloves and, after a long pause, replied: “Sid, there are certain things over which we have no control. I cannot quit, I have to go on.”

It proved to be Senna’s final words to Watkins and also foreshadowed the Brazilian’s death the following day in the 1994 San Marino GP. The 1988, 1990 and 1991 drivers’ champion’s Williams suddenly snapped only seven laps into the race at Imola and it cost Senna his life.

The 1994 San Marino GP resumed less than 40 minutes after Senna died, with Watkins also back in position. Senna’s death would leave Watkins hugely upset, but the Liverpool native often put on a brave face in the wake of Formula 1 seeing its first two fatalities for 12 years.

Sid Watkins was a father-like figure to Ayrton Senna

Watkins was very paternal to F1 drivers but especially with Senna, who cried on the doctor’s shoulder after learning of Ratzenberger’s death at Imola. The way the Brazilian reacted after even visiting the site of the Austrian’s crash drew Watkins to question why Senna continued.

But Senna was not ready to leave Formula 1 behind him and Watkins would be amongst the first on the scene after the ex-Lotus, McLaren and Williams driver crashed out of the lead of the 1994 San Marino GP. It was also instantly clear to Watkins that Senna would not survive.

Watkins continued in his role as F1’s medical delegate until 2005 and would help to oversee vast improvements to F1’s safety standards following Senna’s death. The Brazilian’s passing also served as a wake-up call for other drivers to the dangers racing in Formula 1 presented.

Seven-time F1 drivers’ champion Michael Schumacher did not believe Senna died following the San Marino GP. But it hit the German that he could die at any moment whilst running at Silverstone with Benetton two weeks later and it changed Schumacher’s perception entirely.