Top 10 F1 Drivers Who Survived Career-Ending Wrecks

F1 Drivers Who Survived Career-Ending Wrecks

Romain Grosjean – Bahrain 2020 Fireball

10. Robert Kubica – 2011 Rally Crash

Kubica nearly lost his right hand in a horrific rally crash. Multiple surgeries later, he fought his way back into racing and even returned to the F1 grid in 2019 — something doctors once said was impossible.

9. Niki Lauda – Nürburgring 1976

Lauda’s Ferrari erupted in flames, leaving him with severe burns and damaged lungs. He shocked the world by returning to racing just 42 days later, beginning one of the greatest comeback stories in motorsport.

8. Romain Grosjean – Bahrain 2020 Fireball

Grosjean’s Haas split in half and exploded into a fireball. Trapped for 28 seconds, he walked out alive and inspired a global audience. His escape changed safety forever.

7. Felipe Massa – Hungary 2009

A loose spring hit Massa’s helmet at 160 mph, fracturing his skull. Many feared it was over — yet he came back the following season and continued competing at a top level.

6. Gerhard Berger – Imola 1989

A fiery crash at Tamburello broke Berger’s ribs and caused burns. Just weeks later, he was back in the Ferrari, proving just how tough drivers of that era were.

5. Martin Brundle – Dallas 1984

Before becoming a beloved commentator, Brundle survived a horrifying crash that shattered his ankles and both feet. Doctors warned he might never walk properly again — yet he returned to F1 the next year.

4. Gilles Villeneuve – 1981 Argentina Roll

Villeneuve flipped violently multiple times, launching his Ferrari through the air. While he tragically died a year later in a different incident, this earlier crash was one few thought anyone could survive.

3. Mika Häkkinen – Adelaide 1995

Häkkinen’s crash caused a skull fracture and internal bleeding. He needed an emergency tracheotomy at the track… and two years later, he became a World Champion.

2. Jackie Stewart – Spa 1966

Trapped in his BRM, soaked in fuel, Stewart nearly died in a drainage ditch. The ordeal transformed him into F1’s greatest safety advocate — and he continued winning races afterward.

1. Mark Webber – Valencia 2010 Airborne Crash

Webber launched off the back of a slower car, flipping into the air and slamming into a barrier at terrifying speed. He climbed out like nothing happened… and went on to fight for the championship that same year.