It was a scene motorsport thought it had left in the 1960s. A driver laying on the track, flung from his utterly destroyed car.
The glimmers of yellow from the overalls and orange and blue from the helmet told you it was Lotus rookie Martin Donnelly crumpled beneath the remains of the seat he was still strapped to, his lower limbs at angles the human body shouldn't have to endure, protected by Pierluigi Martini parking his Minardi broadside across the track to form a shield against rivals coming upon a picture of devastation they'd never have imagined encountering in their careers.
As the medical vehicle navigated through the wreckage, Sid Watkins was struggling to identify what car the smouldering pieces had once been, let alone whose life he might now be attempting to save.
To continue reading this feature, subscribe to Autosport Plus
Expert opinion. Technical insight. Unbeatable analysis. Subscribe today for unlimited access to the world's best motorsport journalism.Subscribe to Autosport Plus
- Completely ad-free environment.
- Access Autosport Plus - the best motorsport analysis, insight and opinion.
- No monthly news limit.
- Explore Forix, the world's most comprehensive motorsport stats database.
- Find out more about Autosport Plus
Are you an Autosport magazine subscriber? Activate your Plus account