Breaking news: Red Bull’s best driver was involved in a serious car crash in a race and died instantly. This is devastating.

Breaking news: Red Bull’s best driver was involved in a serious car crash in a race and died instantly. This is devastating.

Breaking: Red Bull‘s top driver was killed instantly in a major automobile crash during a race. It’s terrible.

In the realm of motorsports, safety regulations have advanced significantly since the days when seatbelts and helmets were unheard of. As Carlin drivers Zhi Cong Li and Ryan Tveter would undoubtedly attest after this weekend’s events at the Red Bull Ring, it’s also for the best.

Tveter spun at Turn 5, causing a cloud of dust to fly into the gravel trap just over seven minutes from the end of the first F3 race at Spielberg on Saturday. He eventually came to a stop on the circuit. His teammate, also going by Peter, was unable to avoid the enormous shunt seen in the video above since he was unable to see through the dirt and kept moving forward at full speed along the racing line.

Although Tveter was able to escape his car right away, the Chinese driver was reportedly rendered unconscious by the accident and was flown to a hospital in Graz by helicopter. Tveter also needed medical attention.

Zhi Cong Li was eventually found to have four damaged vertebrae and a shattered heel that will likely require surgery, while the American managed to flee with a seriously wounded knee.

Pedro Piquet of Van Amersfoort Racing was also involved in the collision, but he escaped unharmed.

Following his discharge from the hospital, Tveter thanked “all those who have pushed forward safety in racing” on Twitter. “We’re still here because of them,” he continued.

Thankfully, his injured teammate was feeling better enough for a thumbs-up picture and is reportedly recovering “incredibly well” from the ordeal.

Hopefully, he returns to driving as soon as possible.