Formula 1 is a highly competitive sport where everybody is determined to win – but this doesn’t mean that the human side is forgotten, with various moments of goodwill occurring across the championship’s 75 years.
In celebration of Random Acts of Kindness Day, we’ve rounded up a few of the times where the stars of F1 showed their compassion for one another, from lending a rival what may sometimes have been a crucial piece of equipment through to bravely intervening at the scene of an accident.
Senna comes to the aid of Comas
During qualifying for the 1992 Belgian Grand Prix, Ligier Renault driver Erik Comas suffered a heavy crash at Blanchimont. The Frenchman had hit the barriers at nearly 200 mph and was knocked unconscious by the impact, meaning that his foot was still pressing on the throttle as his car remained in the middle of the track.
READ MORE: Who was Ayrton Senna and why is he regarded as one of F1’s greatest drivers?
Given that this was continuing to pump fuel into the car, there was a risk that it could go up in flames. But when Ayrton Senna witnessed the incident ahead of him, the Brazilian pulled over and ran to assist Comas, quickly shutting off the engine and supporting the driver’s head until the medical crew arrived at the scene.
Fortunately Comas was able to return to action at the next race, and the French driver went on to credit Senna with saving his life.
