Professor Sid Watkins, Formula 1 Legend and Safety Pioneer, Dies at 84

The Formula One community is today mourning the loss of the legendary Professor Sid Watkins. The driving force behind so many of the safety improvements in the sport and the man affectionately known as Prof has passed away after a long battle with cancer, according to The Telegraph. Watkins was brought into F1 in 1978 by his friend Bernie Ecclestone to fight the rising tide of driver fatalities that was gripping the sport. Within weeks of his arrival on the circuit, the death of Ronnie Peterson became the catalyst for the first of many changes after Italian police had refused Watkins access to the injured driver for 18 minutes until an ambulance arrived to take the mortally wounded Swede to hospital. Immediately, Watkins demanded of Ecclest...

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