Paletti’s drama…

Poignant. Riccardo Paletti appears distracted (pictured above) during the drivers’ briefing before the start of the 1982 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. Around him, wearing helmets, we recognize Elio de Angelis, Raul Boesel, Mauro Baldi and Roberto Guerrero.

Riccardo Paletti was the son of a Milanese entrepreneur who had made his fortune in real estate. He was also the importer of Pioneer audio equipment to Italy. Paletti cut his teeth in the Italian F3 championship, but only achieved two fifth-place finishes.

In 1981, Riccardo Paletti moved up to Formula 2, driving a March entered by Mike Earle’s Onyx team. The Italian finished second in the Silverstone round and retired at Hockenheim, not without setting the fastest lap of the race. He reached the podium (third) at Thruxton, but then his results declined, and he finished tenth in the championship.

The Italian, still with the support of Pioneer, moved to Formula 1 in 1982 with the modest Osella team, alongside Frenchman Jean-Pierre Jarier. Paletti qualified for the first time and at the back of the grid for the Canadian Grand Prix, and for the first time also, his parents were present.

At the start, Pironi’s Ferrari on pole stalled… all the other drivers managed to avoid the stationary red car, except Paletti who, accelerating at full speed, didn’t see it and hit it head-on… Due to the force of the impact, Paletti suffered serious chest injuries and, despite the efforts of Dr. Sid Watkins, died… He was about to turn 24.