(Motorsports news) The feeling of powerlessness that developed for the people inside the safety car, which led the Formula 1 field early on, is one of the less well-known facets of what transpired on May 1, 1994.
Max Angelelli, the driver of the safety car, and Charlie Whiting, the former race director of Formula One, were seated next to an Opel Vectra that was underpowered and ultimately too slow to be racing in front of F1 machinery. It was a scenario that no one would ever want to be in.
As things transpired, they would not only feel helpless to stop Senna, the race leader at the time, from pushing them to pick up the pace, but they would also be plagued by terrifying thoughts for years to come.
Whiting is no longer with us to share his story of that day, but he did provide a crystal-clear account of those moments prior to Senna’s crash in an additional video interview for the Mosley movie that was released a few years ago.
Whiting, who was then the FIA technical representative, clarified, “I was the observer in the safety car.” It was just one of my menial tasks.
During the race, I didn’t really have a lot to do with the cars. I just sat there in the security vehicle.
After what appeared to be an accident at the start line involving Pedro Lamy, they sent out the safety car, and we took off.
“The race was being led by Senna. And it seems like it happened yesterday to me.
“Senna pulled alongside the car as we entered the top chicane.”He was standing exactly where he indicated, with his visor up and a ‘faster, faster’ demeanor. I say to myself, ‘We can’t. We are at our maximum speed. It’s not feasible.
The driver was giving it his all behind the wheel of this car, and the brakes were hot and odorous. We finished the lap, and he [Senna] had his incident one lap later.
