Elio de Angelis

Interesting facts

A concert-standard pianist, he entertained fellow drivers stranded at a Johannesburg hotel during the strike before the 1982 South African Grand Prix by playing Chopin and Mozart. In 1977, at 19, he nearly signed for Ferrari after impressing Enzo Ferrari in a test at Fiorano, but the seat went to Gilles Villeneuve instead. At the 1980 Brazilian Grand Prix, aged 21, he became the youngest podium finisher in the sport's history at the time, a record that stood until Ralf Schumacher broke it in 1997. At the 1982 Austrian Grand Prix he beat Keke Rosberg to the line by just 0.05 seconds, the last win team boss Colin Chapman ever witnessed in person, celebrated by throwing his cap in the air. On 14 May 1986, testing the Brabham BT55 at Paul Ricard, the rear wing broke away at high speed, sending the car cartwheeling over the barrier in flames; he survived the impact but couldn't free himself from the wreck, the rescue helicopter arrived half an hour late, and he died of smoke inhalation in a Marseille hospital 29 hours later. Senna, Alain Prost, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet and Nigel Mansell all served as pallbearers at his funeral. Elio de Angelis made his Formula 1 debut in 1979 and raced until 1986, 8 seasons in total as an Italian driver. He scored a total of 122 championship points over his career.