Michele Alboreto 25/04/01

[Jim H]

21 years ago today.

I was a big fan of his in the early eighties when I first was drawn to F1. After Gilles and Didier he was the natural replacement in my youthful head - what a Ferrari driver in F1 should be.
What a name? What style, in and out of the car.

I loved his helmet design also, and remember reading at the time he’d borrowed the scheme from Peterson. I remember painting a picture of him (sat it his Ferrari) and I won a school prize for art - and with the gift I promptly bought a book. What else, but a book about Ferrari racing which I still have.

I’m ashamed to admit it now, but when Gerhard landed at Marenello my allegiances shifted somewhat to his side of the garage.

Where Michele was smooth and precise, a classic in every sense. Gerhard was wild and exciting to watch - and very fast.

Recently I’ve been watching a few old vids on YouTube, a guy on there called ‘ ‘Big Zeddie’ has been posting up a lot of old videos from the early early-mid eighties. It’s the BBC 2 ‘Grand Prix’ edition with good old Murray and James. Well worth a watch if you get chance.

Michele is ever present in many of them, plus many other old names from the past too. By chance I googled him (MA) today and realised it is the anniversary of his passing.

I remember the day vividly when I learned of his passing, a cliche yes, but it was one of those occasions where one felt upset - without ever really knowing the person.

Thanks for the memories Michele, RIP.

[Steamer]

Jim H said:

21 years ago today.

I was a big fan of his in the early eighties when I first was drawn to F1. After Gilles and Didier he was the natural replacement in my youthful head - what a Ferrari driver in F1 should be.
What a name? What style, in and out of the car.

I loved his helmet design also, and remember reading at the time he’d borrowed the scheme from Peterson. I remember painting a picture of him (sat it his Ferrari) and I won a school prize for art - and with the gift I promptly bought a book. What else, but a book about Ferrari racing which I still have.

I’m ashamed to admit it now, but when Gerhard landed at Marenello my allegiances shifted somewhat to his side of the garage.

Where Michele was smooth and precise, a classic in every sense. Gerhard was wild and exciting to watch - and very fast.

Recently I’ve been watching a few old vids on YouTube, a guy on there called ‘ ‘Big Zeddie’ has been posting up a lot of old videos from the early early-mid eighties. It’s the BBC 2 ‘Grand Prix’ edition with good old Murray and James. Well worth a watch if you get chance.

Michele is ever present in many of them, plus many other old names from the past too. By chance I googled him (MA) today and realised it is the anniversary of his passing.

I remember the day vividly when I learned of his passing, a cliche yes, but it was one of those occasions where one felt upset - without ever really knowing the person.

Thanks for the memories Michele, RIP.

Nicely noted.

It must have passed me by at the time - I didn't realise he was testing in an R8 when it happened.

[entropy]

Nice write up OP.

Forgotten man in F1. Could have won 1985 WDC had Ferrari got on top of car development, not out-developed by McLaren. I get the impression Stefan Johannsan was more liked than Albereto in the mid-80s.

When I got into F1 he was a midfielder/F1 reject so I didn't think much of him as a driver apart from his Franco-Roman features and a happy-go-luck demeanour!

He surprised the motor racing world by racing in the oval-only IRL/Indycar for one year. I was into American motorsports then so I had a lot of respect for him and my admiration grew especially as he drove for Audi in sportscars as I was an Audi fan then.

I remember I was in the computer room at uni and learning of Alboreto's death on Autosport's website. I was shocked and felt numb. I can't even bear to type how he died other than to say his Audi R8 flipped. Such a horrible death.