For the rubric of history of F1, today we retrace the history of Michael Alboreto, one of the most great human beings and Italian pilots who have distinguished themselves in the highest category, even in tracksuits Ferrari.
The beginnings in racing
Born in Milan, and grew up in Rozzano (MI), December 23rd 1956, his career began in 1976, the year in which Michele is very young. He has twenty years, he has an employee job and a lot, a lot of passion for racing. For this reason he frequents the circuit Monza, Where the Scuderia Salvati, a team that trained young drivers, notice his talent. Since Alboreto has little money, after a few Formula Monzas, the Scuderia decides to cover the costs to make him compete in the Formula Italy of the 1978. Thanks to a victory and fourth place in the general classification, Michele Alboreto is therefore ready for the F3.
Despite an uncompetitive car, in 1979 already becomes champion of Europe. At this point he takes over Cesare Fiorio, who manages to take him to the Lancia Corse, in the program endurance: the young driver races in four races. He thus manages to conquer the second to the Brands Hatch 1000km paired with Eddie cheever, his future teammate in F1, at 6 Hours of Mugello e to the 6 Hour Watkins Glen. While remaining in endurance too in 1981, Alboreto jumps at the opportunity compete in F2 and F1 at the same time.
Michele Alboreto's arrival in F1
Il F1 debut al San Marino GP with the Tyrell, in 1981, is not its of the best: his car is not very competitive. The best result of the Milanese driver in 1981 is the ninth place at the Dutch GP, which was not a world champion at the time. But in Tyrell finds Eddie Cheever again as a teammate and manages to make yourself well-liked by the team and the public from the beginning. In the 1982 the situation improves, with two fourth places and first podium at the San Marino GP. They follow good results and, al Las Vegas GP, Michele Alboreto gets his first career win, reinforcing his growing popularity in the paddock.
During the 1983 season, Alboreto struggles again due to a Cosworth engine, which turns out to be inefficient, but the Milanese “mola minga” (= don't give up) and still manages to win in Detroit, mid-season. In this way he manages to relaunch its shares on the pilots market. At this point it is Enzo Ferrari to notice it and offers him the opportunity to become a Ferrari driver. Michele Alboreto accepts without any hesitation. It is also thelast Ferrari driver personally chosen from the Drake.
The years at Ferrari
Ferrari was coming from years of painful losses: the death of Gilles Villeneuve, Didier Pironi's accident and the thousand rearrangements that followed. Despite the good test results pre season 1984, the Ferrari 126 C4 is not qualitatively al top. A third race, however, in Belgium, Alboreto manages to climb to the top step of the podium. Despite the reliability problems, the Milanese takes home three more podium finishes: a third place in Austria and two second places at Italian GP and that Europe. At the end of the season finishes fourth in the world championship.
1985: the turning point year?
The World Cup 1985 it should be that of turning. Season starts well thanks to a much more reliable Ferrari 156-85, completely different machine, on all fronts, compared to the previous ones. Alboreto arrives second in Brazil and Portugal. In San Marino, however, he was forced to withdraw due to a technical problem. Back on the podium in Monaco, where he reached the finish line in second position, while wins the Canadian GP. The Milanese also wins the German GP, but it will turn out to be his last victory in F1.
In fact, after this race, Pieces of the turbines begin to inexplicably break from same company which provides the McLaren-Porsche. Enzo Ferrari becomes suspicious and has those pieces analyzed: nothing emerges, so it is assumed that the quality of the pieces intended for Ferrari is poorer and Drake changes supplier. Against the advice of the technicians employed by the Great Old Man, Maranello begins to adopt American Garrett turbines. The consequence of this is a total disaster. Alboretum he hasn't scored any points in his last five races, Of which four in a row end with the training camp: Alain Prost wins also thanks to this his first world title.Michele Alboreto's Ferrari experience, perhaps undermined by that choice of Enzo Ferrari, ends in 1988, the year in which the Drake dies.
Michele Alboreto after Ferrari
From the 1989 to the 1994, year of his retirement from F1, Michele Alboreto is still running with Tyrrell, with Lola, Footwork and Minardi, but he never gets results that match his abilities. in 194 GP in which he ran, he just got 5 victories, 2 pole positions, 9 second places and 9 third places.
After F1, Michele Alboreto returns to racing with covered wheel cars. Start with a short period unsatisfactory since DTM with Alfa Romeo. Then participate in the championship IMSA in 1995, where it gets two poles, one to 24 Hours of Daytona and the other to 12 Hours of Sebring. In 1996 enter the Formula Indy finishing his first race in fourth place. in following years runs in few races: in 1997 it just focuses on the 24 Hours of Le Mans, who wins together with Stefan Johansson and Tom Kristensen with the TWR-Porsche of Joest racing. In 1999 Is the reference point for Audi Sport and the Joest team, With whom participates in several races until 2001. The last victory he celebrates is the 12 Hours of Sebring, Together with Rinaldo Capello and Laurent Aiello, March 17 2001.
The unfortunate test for Le Mans and death
Alboreto leaves this world on April 25, 2001, while he is running with the new Audi R8 Sport in preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. His car suddenly swerves along the straight of the Lausitzring of Klettwitz, Germany. Once off the road, Alboreto's car overturns due to the explosion of the left front wheel, as will be clarified later. The great Milanese driver dies instantly, leaving his wife and two daughters.
Anecdotes and curiosities about Michele Alboreto
Of a reserved nature, Michele Alboreto was a big fan of Ronnie Petersson: Alboreto dedicated the colors of his helmet to him. As an excellent pilot, particularly attentive to safety, it was the first to self-reduce his speed during the arrival and restart from the pits. He pushed and got that, from the 1994, his practice became mandatory for all pilots, thinking about their safety and that of the mechanics in the pit lane. It was friend of many pilots, including his compatriot Riccardo Patrese. He loved playing the bass.
Source: quattroruote.com; Naska YouTube channel.
