Former Ferrari Driver Mika Salo Recounts Suspected Knife Attack in Thailand

Former Ferrari driver Mika Salo suffered a deep leg wound in Bangkok, suspected to be from a knife attack during a moped incident. The 59-year-old Finn required 28 stitches and daily hospital visits, but has since healed.

Why it matters:

The incident underscores safety risks for F1 figures in Southeast Asia, as Thailand actively pursues a spot on the Formula 1 calendar. Salo's injury occurred in a city with dense moped traffic, where similar slashings reportedly happened the same evening, highlighting a broader issue.

The details:

• Salo felt a moped brush past him while walking in Bangkok, but only noticed the wound when a pedestrian alerted him to blood covering his shoe.
• A doctor treated a clean, straight cut, suspecting a knife. The wound required 28 stitches, including muscle repair.
• Hospital staff told Salo there were “countless similar lacerations” that same night, suggesting a pattern of attacks.
• Salo needed daily cleaning due to high infection risk from Thailand's humidity and poor air quality, but his injury healed well.

What's next:

Salo, who made 109 F1 starts and scored two podiums with Ferrari in 1999, has recovered fully. The incident does not affect his post-F1 life, but it serves as a cautionary tale as Thailand pushes for a Grand Prix. For now, the Finn is back to his regular visits to the country, though likely more aware of passing mopeds.