Romain Grosjean is not the first Formula 1 driver to get a one-race ban following a serious accident. In 1978, Italian Riccardo Patrese was banned by his peers following the carambolage that heppened at the start of the Italian Grand Prix.
Lets recall what happened at Monza in 1978. Moments after the start of the race, on the approach to the first chicane, Riccardo Patrese's Arrows, which had qualified 12th, touched James Hunt's McLaren, which started from 10th position.
The McLaren was spun into Peterson's Lotus and the Lotus 78 was spun into the barriers on the right-hand side of the track, crushing the front of the car. Vittorio Brambilla, who had started from the back of the grid, tried to avoid the accident but his Surtees crashed into Peterson's Lotus. Peterson's Lotus burst into flames.
Although his injuries were not in themselves life-threatening (he suffered from 27 factures to his legs and feet), Peterson died from an embolism the following day.
An injuction was filed by the Grand Prix Driver's Association to ban Patrese from the next race, the United States Grand Prix. This went through and Patrese took no part in that Grand Prix weekend at Watkins Glen.
James Hunt believed that it was Patrese's muscling past that caused the McLaren and Lotus to touch, but Patrese argues that he was already well ahead of the pair before the accident took place.
Subsequent investigations cleared Patrese, and thankfully, this form of "instant justice" has never been repeated in Formula 1. In comparison, Grosjean was penalised by the FIA, the sanctioning body, and not by the other drivers.
Lets recall what happened at Monza in 1978. Moments after the start of the race, on the approach to the first chicane, Riccardo Patrese's Arrows, which had qualified 12th, touched James Hunt's McLaren, which started from 10th position.
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| Photo: WRi2 |
The McLaren was spun into Peterson's Lotus and the Lotus 78 was spun into the barriers on the right-hand side of the track, crushing the front of the car. Vittorio Brambilla, who had started from the back of the grid, tried to avoid the accident but his Surtees crashed into Peterson's Lotus. Peterson's Lotus burst into flames.
Although his injuries were not in themselves life-threatening (he suffered from 27 factures to his legs and feet), Peterson died from an embolism the following day.
An injuction was filed by the Grand Prix Driver's Association to ban Patrese from the next race, the United States Grand Prix. This went through and Patrese took no part in that Grand Prix weekend at Watkins Glen.
James Hunt believed that it was Patrese's muscling past that caused the McLaren and Lotus to touch, but Patrese argues that he was already well ahead of the pair before the accident took place.
Subsequent investigations cleared Patrese, and thankfully, this form of "instant justice" has never been repeated in Formula 1. In comparison, Grosjean was penalised by the FIA, the sanctioning body, and not by the other drivers.