Formula 1 plans to open its Italian Grand Prix weekend tomorrow with a minute of silence in respect of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, who died today.
Following the announcement of her death, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said in a statement: “Formula 1 mourns the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.“For more than seven decades she dedicated her life to public service with dignity and devotion and inspired so many around the world.
“Formula 1 sends its deepest condolences to the Royal Family and to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.”
Further gestures of respect may take place during the weekend, including a further period of silence before the main event on Sunday.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
“The Queen was undoubtedly one of the most respected heads of state ever to have lived, and I send my condolences, and those of the entire FIA community, to the Royal Family and all of the citizens of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
“Motor sport, and especially Formula 1, has its heart in the United Kingdom, and the royal family has over the years given great support and patronage to the sport. For this we thank them, and those events taking place around the world this weekend will undoubtedly be undertaken in honour of her majesty.”
Prior to her accession to the throne in 1952, the future queen attended the first round of the world championship, the 1950 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
The British Racing Drivers’ Club, which owns the circuit, said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of HRH Queen Elizabeth II. Everyone at the British Racing Drivers’ Club and Silverstone join the nation in mourning the loss of her majesty.”
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Motorsport world pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II
How do you find the words to describe the loss of Her Majesty The Queen? She was truly an iconic leader, an inspiration and a reassuring presence for most, if not all, of our lives.
Since the sad news yesterday, I’ve been reflecting on her incredible life. She was a symbol of hope for so many and she served her country with dignity, dedication and kindness. She was truly like no other and I’m grateful to have lived during her time. Her legacy will be long-lasting and her passing deeply felt.
I had the incredible honour of being able to spend time with her. It is something I’ll never forget. We talked about our shared love of dogs and she was incredibly generous with her time. I know the whole nation and many others around the world will be mourning her loss and my thoughts and prayers are with her family and all those close to her, who have lost a loved one.
Lewis Hamilton
I’m so sad to hear about the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Her devotion to our country and her gracious leadership were inspirational to so many generations of people in the UK and around the world.
My family and I send our deepest condolences to the royal family and to all those who admired her service to our country for seven decades.
Rest in peace.
George Russell
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
An amazing role model and total dedication to a lifetime of public service. Thank you and rest in peace, Her Majesty the Queen.
Alexander Albon
My most sincere condolences to the British Royal Family and to the British people. Rest in Peace Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Carlos Sainz Jnr
My most sincere condolences to the family of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, following her passing. She will be missed by all in the United Kingdom and beyond.
Esteban Ocon
Rest in peace your Majesty, what an incredible life you’ve dedicated to the service of your people. A better symbol we could not have asked for.
My deepest condolences to the Royal family and staff.
Jack Aitken
Rest in peace Queen Elizabeth, you served your country with so much dignity and honour, you will be forever remembered for your amazing personality, hard work and loyal service.
David Brabham
Williams Racing joins the world in mourning the death of Her Majesty The Queen. Our thoughts are with the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, which HM Queen Elizabeth II was devoted to for more than seventy years of inspirational public service.
Williams
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Aston Martin is deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty The Queen.
The Queen has dedicated her life to public service, and throughout her long reign was a passionate champion for British culture, enterprise and innovation. We were honoured she visited Aston Martin in 1966.
Our thoughts and condolences are with the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth at this difficult time.
Aston Martin
We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of her majesty Queen Elizabeth II, an inspiring figure who dedicated her life to public service with integrity and quiet leadership for seventy years.
The impact she made in the UK and around the world will be felt for generations to come and the values she stood for are the best of all human values: dignity, respect and compassion.
We send our heartfelt condolences to the royal family and the people of the UK and the Commonwealth.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Very saddened to learn of the passing of her majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Her remarkable reign touched and moved so many; remaining steadfast in her duties as a mother and our monarch to the end.
I had the honour of meeting her majesty a couple of times and she will be remembered by a country and commonwealth whom she served for more than seventy years, devoting herself with unreserved dignity and dedication. I would like to take the opportunity to send my deepest condolences to the royal family at this time.
Christian Horner, Red Bull
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
BWT Alpine F1 Team deeply mourns the passing of her majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
For more than 70 years her majesty has selflessly devoted her life to serving her kingdom and her people with dignity. she has inspired many generations across the world to act with tolerance, kindness and poise.
The team expresses its deepest sympathy and condolences to her family.
We are proud to be a part of the united kingdom community and to have many British and Commonwealth citizens in our workforce. we thank her for life-long devotion and pride in serving the country.
Alpine
Heartfelt sympathies for the loss of a groundbreaking woman. Our thoughts are with the Royal Family, the British people and our British colleagues in the paddock.
May she rest in peace.
Ferrari
Along with our British colleagues, and the F1 community, we mourn the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Our condolences go to the British royal family at this time.
AlphaTauri
We join the F1 community, and in particular with our United Kingdom based staff, in mourning the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Our condolences go to the British Royal Family at this time.
Haas
Everyone at Formula E is saddened to learn of the passing of her majesty the Queen.
We join with people around the world in mourning her loss, and send our deepest condolences to the royal family.
Formula E
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2022 F1 season
- Mercedes told me “you’re wrong” about 2022 car’s problems – Hamilton
- FIA confirms all 10 F1 teams complied with 2022 cost cap
- Steiner “not ashamed” of panning “slow” Schumacher in Drive to Survive
- Albon believes year out of F1 improved him as a driver
- Hamilton sees diversity gains in F1 years on from his ‘traumatising’ experience of racism
amian
8th September 2022, 19:12
I saw Queen Elisabeth II from up close in 2004, which gave me a tangible sense of belonging to the epoch in Europe’s and world’s history that is now going away with her death.
ajpennypacker (@ajpennypacker)
8th September 2022, 22:00
It’s true. Not meaning to be insensitive, but some of the remnnats of that epoch were long overdue to dissapear from society in general. It’s unlikely that much will change with the immediate successor, but the next one in line does give me hope.
JackL
9th September 2022, 1:08
Can we stop pretending that she didnt leave a legacy of colonization and racism that led to the death of millions? A legacy which continues to affect tens of millions to this day. There were many positive things that she did, but lets not gloss over the more ugly aspects either.
grat
9th September 2022, 2:33
I’m not sure what you’re trying to get at– I’m unaware of any foreign lands being colonized under Queen Elizabeth’s reign. There are, however, about 48 territories and nations that gained independence from the UK during her reign, and the last 70 years have been some of the most progressive in the UK’s history.
Or are you just using the occasion of a liked and respected monarch’s passing to take cheap shots at the monarchy in general?
SteveP
9th September 2022, 7:05
From the comments of a co-worker, who is Indian born, India would not be the coherent and economically powerful nation it is now without the developments of the British Raj. Personally, I have my doubts that forgiveness of the behaviour of some of the visitors is really covered by the benefits of the presence, but he argues differently.
Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
9th September 2022, 10:58
+ 1
Jack (@jackisthestig)
9th September 2022, 5:18
What drivel!
Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
9th September 2022, 11:01
I don’t think the U.K. did of colonisation in the 20th Century. Or racism leading to the death of millions. I think you are about 150 years out. In fact quite the opposite as others have said. Ridiculous comment by an uninformed person.
Sam
9th September 2022, 17:17
Google the “Mau Mau Rebellion”. Kenya, 1952 to 1960. 10,000 people minimum were killed by the British. Also, some of the most unpleasant accounts of torture I have read about. This covers the reign of the Queen although I do not know if she had any involvement.
Radoye
9th September 2022, 5:38
Yes – the 20th Century is now truly over.
Jere (@jerejj)
8th September 2022, 19:37
RIP
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
8th September 2022, 19:42
Strange days. Well said, George. Rather proud of that.
.
Yaru (@yaru)
8th September 2022, 19:51
RIP Queen Elizabeth II.
Paul (@frankjaeger)
8th September 2022, 20:43
Sad to see a good person die but couldn’t care less to be honest. Far better people with much tougher life circumstances die everyday.
RIP
grat
9th September 2022, 2:45
Wow. If you couldn’t care less, then why did you post? Oh right– because you do care, that people know your opinion.
If you don’t care that a good person passed away, it doesn’t say much for your own value as a human being. All lives are important, whether they’re starving kids in third world countries, or quite literally, royalty.
Sam
9th September 2022, 6:15
The deaths of just about every good person will not receive this much media coverage or (I guess) have an elaborate funeral at the expense of the state. So you can simultaneously recognise a personal tragedy of someone dying and object to how the media and the state responds in a particular way to the death of that specific individual.
I am sure she worked hard throughout her life and she worked way beyond her retirement age but she did also get heavily rewarded when alive, and she got that job through simply having the right parents.
bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
8th September 2022, 21:01
Regardless of your views on monarchy’s and royals. I think it’s fairly safe to say she was a good person who obviously means a lot to a lot of people – and just as you’d offer your condolences to any who feels any sense of loss, condolences should always be on offer.
Rest in peace.
Bamboombots
8th September 2022, 22:52
If only we cared this much about the thousands of children dying every day from hunger or entirely preventable diseases.
I guess they just didn’t pick the right mother.
antony obrien
9th September 2022, 13:33
DO you then?
superman
9th September 2022, 19:20
Sadly true. Royalty has no place in a healthy caring society.
SpaFrancorchamps (@spafrancorchamps)
8th September 2022, 23:01
I am no fan of the monarchy. But it does feel like the end of an era. She had been the Queen my whole life until this point. She had a good run for 97 years.
Rest in peace.
Pat Pepper
8th September 2022, 23:46
Her Majesty had a small but notable connection to F1 history, which I hope will be remembered at some point during the Monza weekend’s various marks of respect, because she was at the very first world championship GP at Silverstone in 1950, attending with her father, King George VI.
Pat Pepper
9th September 2022, 17:29
I’m glad to see that RaceFans itself has recognised this fact in another report today. Thank you to Will Wood, much appreciated.
Jack (@jackisthestig)
9th September 2022, 5:40
She had a far greater affinity with horsepower of a different kind but so many important figures from the world of motorsport have been honoured with knighthoods MBE’s and OBE’s I think our sport was held in high regard by Her Majesty. Terribly sad news yesterday but what a wonderful life of devotion.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
9th September 2022, 9:08
F1 is very British, however I don’t think it is up to f1, it’s owners, the Italian gp promoters or any non Btitish entities involved in the sport to usurp the moment. The italian gp dhould go ahead as normal and whoever wants to pay tribute should do it respectfully. A grand gesture is disrespectful in my opinion.
Imre (@f1mre)
9th September 2022, 10:31
Disrespectful to whom?
amian
9th September 2022, 11:56
@peartree
I 100% agree! Although I wouldn’t neccessarily use the word “disrespectful”.
Let’s be honest, for most people in the world QEII wasn’t anything more than a popular culture icon just like Michael Jackson. Brits shouldn’t hi-jack Formula 1 for the purpose of their national celebrations, nor should they demand anybody else to care, let alone celebrate with them.