RIP Sid Watkins

[SeijaKessen]

I don't think words can adequately express how much Sid Watkins meant to F1.

Outside of the drivers, I can think of no person more important, and instrumental than Sid was during his time in F1.

I can very well see Sid getting up there, seeing Ayrton and asking, "What the hell happened at Imola?" To which Ayrton would get that grin on his face and say, "I should have listened to you and gone fishing."

But Sid's stories were incredible. My most favorite story was the one about the time he went for a car ride with Gilles and Madam Villeneuve. He said he went to sit in the back seat and Madam Villeneuve insisted he sit in the front. When she got in the back, he noticed she ducked down behind the seats. Driving on public roads with Gilles was not for the faint of heart.

[Steven]

The FIA and the FIA Institute extend their sincere condolences to the Watkins family on the sad news of the death of FIA Institute Honorary President Professor Sid Watkins.

Throughout his life Sid made a unique contribution to motor sport, particularly in improving safety for F1 drivers, officials and spectators around the world.

He was highly respected as an acclaimed neurosurgeon, F1 medical delegate, chairman of the FIA Expert Advisory Safety Committee, and as the first President of the FIA Institute.

Sid's experience, intelligence and endearing humour will be forever greatly missed.

Our thoughts are with the Watkins family at this difficult time.

Jean Todt, FIA President, said: "This is a truly sad day for the FIA family and the entire motor sport community. Sid was loved and respected in equal measure by all those who knew and worked with him. We will always be grateful for the safety legacy that he has left our sport."

Gérard Saillant, FIA Institute President, said: "Sid was a true gentleman of our sport and always a pleasure to work with. He will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him, from doctors and drivers to officials and fans. Sid's influence will live on for many years to come."

[Steven]

he Williams F1 Team would like to extend their condolences to the friends and family of Professor Sid Watkins following the sad news that he died on Wednesday evening.

Sid was well known and much loved by everyone in the paddock, for both his wicked sense of humour and his dedication to the safety of others.

Sir Frank Williams said: “Sid Watkins gained the respect and admiration of all the drivers throughout his time in Formula One. I know a number of them, throughout their time as racing drivers, looked to Sid for many different kinds of advice, in addition to his medical expertise. Perhaps most significant in my mind is that Sid was held in high regard by Bernie Ecclestone.

He was in all respects a very special human being. In particular, his dedication to the safety of the drivers required endless persistence to achieve the safety standards and level of medical care that were necessary to save drivers’ lives.

My own endorsement of Sid’s abilities goes without saying. He took splendid care of me when I spent 11 weeks in his hospital post-injury. After that I emerged as a human being who, if not fully mobile, could continue with a perfectly normal and healthy lifestyle. I remain forever grateful to him.”

Williams F1 will be running the flags at the factory in Grove at half mast today, as a mark of respect.

[Steven]

‘The Prof’ – who served as the head of the Formula 1 on-track medical team for more than twenty years – was an instrumental figure in the improvement of motorsport safety and a widely respected figure throughout the motorsport community.

On hearing the news, Team Principal Eric Boullier expressed his feelings of utmost respect for a true legend of the sport:

Eric Boullier: “I rarely had the pleasure of meeting Sid Watkins, but anyone connected with Formula 1 – or indeed motorsport in general – will know what an impact he has had on the sport. Drivers of many past and future generations owe him a lot; his passion and dedication have changed the face of safety in motorsport and saved a lot of lives in the process. We have lost a true great of Formula 1; I would like to extend my sincerest condolences to his family at this difficult time”

[beelsebob]

RIP an extraordinary great man.

[michika12]

RIP Professor Sid! You're a truly legend! You helped save the lives of many well-known drivers.

[Steven]

“What Sid Watkins did in the way of safety in Formula One was incredible. He gave his whole life to that cause, to make sure that it could be as safe as it possibly could be. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for his caring and commitment.

“When I invited him to join Formula One as its official doctor partway through the 1978 season, we discussed many aspects of safety and medical issues. We agreed that we needed a proper hospital at the track in the form of a fully equipped medical centre to stabilise injured drivers with immediate treatment, and a helicopter to transport them subsequently to specialist facilities, and that the helicopter pad had to be as close to that trackside hospital as possible.

“Sid carried all of those things through, and many more. After the accidents to Jochen Rindt and then Ronnie Peterson, I suggested that he should have a medical intervention car and that he should take responsibility for taking drivers into medical care.

“We always talked things through and worked together, and he then took care of all the medical things which I knew nothing about.

“I am pretty sure that he is irreplaceable. You only meet somebody of his calibre once in your lifetime.”

[cossie]

Along with Dr.'s Steve Olvey and Tammel they were the big 3 of open safety and treatment of driver's on track, the 3 came to develope the on track safety programs hade the privlage to work with the CART and champcar safety teams along with Olvey and Trammel at Road America and the Milwaukee Mile, they saved Zanardi In Germany, and Cristiano da Matta when he hit the deer at 100mph plus at RA