“All the right qualities”

Michele Alboreto was one of the leading drivers in Formula 1 during the eighties, first with Tyrrell and then with Ferrari (picture above at Monza). He took part in 194 Grand Prix, 80 of them with the Maranello marque, and took five wins, three with the Scuderia.

Vice-President Piero Ferrari recalled the Milanese driver, who was sadly killed testing an Audi R8 at the Lausitzring in 2001, in a conversation with Ferrari.com: “It’s always difficult to sum up someone in just a few words, even more in Michele’s case. We were always good friends, even after he left Ferrari. He was extremely polite, absolutely dedicated to the team and, above all, very rational in his decisions.”

Piero Ferrari continued: “During his time at Tyrrell, Michele had proved to be very quick on every type of circuit and in any conditions, a characteristic that attracted my father’s attention. He therefore had all the right qualities to be a Scuderia driver.”

Ferrari concluded: “I have one regret: that we could not give him in 1985, what was needed to win the world title and thus see an Italian as World Champion with Ferrari, for the first time since Alberto Ascari. 

Alboreto finished runner-up to Alain Prost (McLaren-TAG) in the 1985 Drivers’ F1 Championship. He is seen here-below, on his way to victory, at the Canadian Grand Prix.