Sid Watkins retires
A great man from the world of Formula 1 has decided to bow out at the beginning of the 2012 season. Sid Watkins, a renowned neurosurgeon, has decided to step back from his duties.
Professor Sid Watkins has resigned from his position as president of the FIA Institute, ending his full-time involvement in motorsport: «It has been an honor and a great pleasure to lead the Institute since its inception. I am very proud of our work and our future projects. I look forward to continuing to make a modest contribution in my new role as honorary president.»
The 83-year-old neurosurgeon has played a crucial role in the safety of Formula 1 races for several years, serving as the F1 medical delegate from 1978 to 2004.
Born in Liverpool at the dawn of the 1930s, young Sidney Watkins quickly became interested in mechanics and cars by working in his father’s garage, a former miner. However, he decided to take a completely different path by studying medicine at the University of Oxford, specializing in neurosurgery.
After having been a race doctor affiliated with the Silverstone circuit, Bernie Ecclestone propelled him in 1978 to become the official doctor of Formula 1. He took up his duties at the Swedish Grand Prix that same year.
Watkins worked closely with former FIA president Max Mosley and race director Charlie Whiting to improve safety after a series of accidents and deaths. He was notably on the front lines during the accidents of Ronnie Peterson in 1978, Riccardo Paletti and Didier Pironi in 1982, and of course during the dark weekend of Formula 1 in 1994…
He was appointed chairman of the FIA Expert Advisory Safety Committee after the deaths of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna in 1994.
It is the Frenchman Gérard Saillant (known for having operated on Olivier Panis and Michael Schumacher after their accidents) who will replace him. He even paid tribute to his predecessor: “I have learned a lot working with Sid Watkins and I am now looking forward to advancing his work as the new president of the FIA Institute. We have made great progress in motorsport safety, but there is always work to be done, and I am determined to ensure that all these efforts continue.”
Sid Watkins does not leave empty-handed, as he has just been honored by the FIA at the traditional end-of-year gala. Jean Todt paid him a heartfelt tribute: “I would like to express my sincere thanks, with emotion and warmth, to Sid on behalf of the entire motorsport community and the FIA family. This gold medal awarded to Sid Watkins is in recognition of his outstanding achievements in motorsport and safety throughout a 50-year career.”
