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Commonly known as "Professor Sid" or "Prof" within the Formula One world, Sidney Watkins has died at the age of 84, on September 12, 2012.
He served 26 years as the FIA Safety and Medical Delegate. Head of the Formula One on-track medical team, he was the first responder on the scene of a crash.
Dr. Watkins helped to save the lives of many drivers, including Mika Hakkinen, Martin Donnelly, Erik Comas, Didier Pironi, Gerhard Berger, Rubens Barrichello and Karl Wendlinger.
With the support of Bernie Ecclestone, Watkins revolutionized Formula One by improving the safety measures in the category.
Having experienced the death of Ronnie Peterson in Italy in 1978, he slowly started his revolution. Against the resistance from circuit owners, he succeed in making the safety changes, such as fully equipped medical units, medical cars and helicopter on site at each race.
After the deaths of Gilles Villeneuve and Riccardo Paletti in 1982, he led the Safety Commission of the FIA.
Following the tragic weekend of Imola 1994, on which Roland Ratzenberger and his personal friend Ayrton Senna were killed, he became the FIA Motor Sport Safety expert and improved once again the standards of safety and medical intervention in Formule One.
On 2005, Watkins announced his retirement from various medical positions at the FIA. The governing body appointed his longtime deputy, Gary Hartstein, as his successor.
On December 2011, Sid Watkins stepped down from this FIA Institute President role and received the FIA Academy Gold Medal, during the FIA Gala.
He served 26 years as the FIA Safety and Medical Delegate. Head of the Formula One on-track medical team, he was the first responder on the scene of a crash.
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| Dr. Sid Watkins (Photo: WRI2) |
Dr. Watkins helped to save the lives of many drivers, including Mika Hakkinen, Martin Donnelly, Erik Comas, Didier Pironi, Gerhard Berger, Rubens Barrichello and Karl Wendlinger.
With the support of Bernie Ecclestone, Watkins revolutionized Formula One by improving the safety measures in the category.
Having experienced the death of Ronnie Peterson in Italy in 1978, he slowly started his revolution. Against the resistance from circuit owners, he succeed in making the safety changes, such as fully equipped medical units, medical cars and helicopter on site at each race.
After the deaths of Gilles Villeneuve and Riccardo Paletti in 1982, he led the Safety Commission of the FIA.
Following the tragic weekend of Imola 1994, on which Roland Ratzenberger and his personal friend Ayrton Senna were killed, he became the FIA Motor Sport Safety expert and improved once again the standards of safety and medical intervention in Formule One.
On 2005, Watkins announced his retirement from various medical positions at the FIA. The governing body appointed his longtime deputy, Gary Hartstein, as his successor.
On December 2011, Sid Watkins stepped down from this FIA Institute President role and received the FIA Academy Gold Medal, during the FIA Gala.