Riccardo Patrese

At the end of the 1993 season, the curtain finally fell on the Formula 1
career of Riccardo Patrese, during which he had competed in a staggering
total of 256 World Championship Grands Prix. During the 17 seasons that he
had spent racing at the highest level, he had matured from a wild and
cocksure enfant terrible into a contented and charming elder statesman,
happy still to be part of the scene which had changed so much during his
marathon innings.

A former karting whizz-kid who took the world title in 1974, Patrese moved
into cars the following season in Formula Italia. He finished runner-up to
Bruno Giacomelli and then embarked on a full season of Formula 3 in 1976.
The ensuing fierce battle with Conny Andersson for the European championship
went all the way to a bitter final round before the title fell to the
Italian. Riccardo then enjoyed a successful year in Formula 2 with a Chevron
but before long he had been propelled into the Shadow team to replace Zorzi.
While his off-track demeanour ruffled a few feathers, there was certainly no
doubting his talent behind the wheel. Patrese was part of the new breakaway
Arrows team at the start of 1978 and he was sensationally quick, leading
comfortably in South Africa until an engine failure robbed him of a deserved
victory. Unfortunately his driving still had some rough edges, and in the
emotional aftermath of Peterson's accident at Monza Riccardo was targeted
for blame. The treatment he received would have broken a lesser man, but he
simply got on with the job, although in retrospect staying loyal to Arrows
could have been his biggest mistake. From 1979 through to 1981 he struggled
to find sustained success with cars that showed occasional promise that
remained unfulfilled, and secretly he must have regretted turning down the
tempting opportunities he was offered in 1978.

A move to Brabham found him in a truly competitive environment, but a lucky
win at Monaco was the highlight of an inconclusive year, disfigured by a
rash of mistakes. It was a similar story in 1983, Riccardo tossing away
victory at Imola early in the season yet signing off from the Brabham team
with a perfect display at Kyalami to show what might have been. He certainly
had time to ponder his wasted chances over the next few years as he became
caught in a depressing downward spiral, struggling with the
Benetton-sponsored Alfa for two seasons before returning to a Brabham team
that was beginning its terminal decline. At least he had been able to savour
the taste of success in his role as a works driver for Lancia Martini with
wins at Silverstone and the Nürburgring in 1982, Kyalami in 1984 and Spa a
year later.

When he was picked for the second Williams drive, most observers felt
Patrese was extremely lucky to have been given such an opportunity, and he
certainly failed to pull up any trees with the Judd-engined car in 1988.
However, the following season, with Mansell off to Ferrari and Renault power
at his disposal, a rejuvenated Riccardo appeared. Relaxed and confident, he
forged an excellent working relationship with Patrick Head and was largely
responsible for the development work that was to bring the Didcot team back
to the top of the pile. Certainly he was unlucky not to win at least two
races that year, but he put that to rights in 1990 with an emotional win at
Imola, helping to erase his painful memories of 1983. Even the return of
Mansell in 1991 - which Patrese took with great equanimity - failed to blunt
his spirit, and he gave as good as he got, particularly in the first half of
the season. Victories in Mexico and Portugal set the seal on what was
probably his best-ever year. Statistically the following season, when he was
runner-up to Mansell in the World Championship, was more successful, but his
performances were less convincing, and he was very fortunate to escape
unharmed after a horrifying coming-together with Berger at Estoril, but
showed his steel by bouncing back with a win at Suzuka.

Accepting a lucrative contract with Benetton for 1993, Riccardo found it
difficult to rediscover his recent sparkling form. A depressing early-season
run was arrested by midsummer, but by then the Benetton management had
already decided to dispense with the services of Grand Prix racing's most
experienced campaigner.

Riccardo subsequently took a well-paid drive in German Super Touring with
Ford, but the Mondeo was never more than a midfield runner. Apart from a
one-off return to Le Mans with Nissan in 1997, Patrese eased himself into
comfortable and well-deserved retirement, although (like his former team
mate Nigel Mansell) he was tempted back into the cockpit to compete in the
Kyalami Grand Prix Masters at the end of 2005, taking a highly impressive
third place.