Formula 1 Wiki

READ MORE

Formula 1 Wiki
Advertisement

Michele Alboreto (mi-KAY-lay AL-bore-ET-oh; born December 23rd 1956 in Milan, Italy – died April 25th 2001 in Klettwitz, Brandenburg, Germany) was an Italian Formula One driver from the 80s and 90s. Alboreto was killed during a test session with an Audi sports car at the Lausitzring in Germany.

Early Years[]

Alboreto started his racing career a lot later than most successful racing drivers today. Alboreto was aged 20 in 1976 when he started his career in Formula Monza with a small car that he and his friends built known as the CMR. The car was extremely uncompetitive and throughout the 1976–77 seasons, the car failed to score a point and struggled to finish most races around the legendary Monza circuit. For 1978, Alboreto moved up into Formula Italia with a more competitive March chassis. Alboreto finally managed to show his true potential as a race driver and took multiple wins throughout the season.

Formula 3[]

After an impressive first season in Formula Italia, Alboreto moved up into Formula 3 with the Euroracing Team. He competed in both the Italian and European Championship. In the Italian Championship Alboreto took 3 wins during the season and battled hard for the title, however he was not good enough to beat title rival Piero Maganelli, however he managed to finish a strong second in the championship. In the European F3 series he failed to take a win but took several podiums and eventually finished 6th in the championship.

In 1980, Alboreto continued on in F3 in both series with Euroracing. In the Euro Championship, Alboreto took a strong step up and managed to take the title after 4 race wins and 6 other podium finishes out of 14 races in the season. The Italian Championship was less successful and only took one win and only finished 3rd in the champ due to poor reliability.

Alboreto also made a solitary appearance in the British F3 Championship where he landed his Euroracer third at Brands Hatch.

Sports Cars[]

In 1980 Alboreto had a brief career in Sports Cars with the Lancia team. His car proved unreliable and failed to finish the 4 races he entered, he then resigned from the team and the series.

Formula 2[]

After impressing in F3, Alboreto managed to secure a drive with F2 Minardi team. The car was quick but unreliable which failed to see him as one of the more competitive runners in F2, however he did manage to win one race. Alboreto also had limited testing in the car since his F1 career and Endurance career would not allow. At the end of 1981, Alboreto gave up on F2.

Endurance Racing[]

In 1981, Alboreto entered Endurance Racing alongside F1 and F2. Joining up with the Martini team, he was contracted for only a partial season to make time for his other racing events. Nevertheless, Alboreto impressed as he took victory in one of the 4 events he started in 1981.

After an impressive season in 1981, Alboreto was back with Martini for 1982 and this time competed in 8 events and out of those 8 he took 3 victories. He could have possibly contended for the title that year but since he was on only a partial contract for the year due to F1 commitments he was unable to participate in any more races.

For 1983, Alboreto raced in both the European and World Endurance Championships with 5 races in the WEC and 6 races in the EEC with Martini again. However, despite several podiums in both series, he failed to get a win during the year. At the end of the year he decided to end his Endurance Career and focus completely on F1.

Formula 1[]

1981-1983: Tyrrell[]

1981[]

After impressing performances in F3, in 1981 Alboreto was drafted in to the Tyrrell F1 Team in round 4 at the San Marino Grand Prix to replace Ricardo Zunino who was underperforming in the team. Alboreto partnered American Eddie Cheever at the team. In his first race Alboreto collided with fellow Italian Beppe Gabbiani sending both of them out of the race. Alboreto struggled throughout the season and failed to qualify on two attempts and his car proved extremely unreliable and failed to finish most of his races. It was a miserable first year in F1 for Alboreto and he failed to score any points unlike Cheever who scored 10.

1982[]

Remaining on at Tyrrell for 1982 things improved a fair bit. Alboreto was now partnered by new teammate Slim Borgudd at Tyrrell. In the second round of the championship, at Brazil, Alboreto scored his first points with a fourth place. After repeating the feat the next race, he scored his first podium at the San Marino Grand Prix. After this, he did not score points for six races, before a sixth place at France and a fourth at Germany. For the last two races, he finished fifth in the Italian Grand Prix and then took his first Formula One victory at the final race at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. He scored 25 points in the season, and was eighth in the championship.

F1 Career History[]

Year Entrant Team WDC Pts. WDC Pos. Report
1981 United Kingdom Tyrrell Racing Team Tyrrell-Ford Cosworth 0 NC Report
1982 United Kingdom Team Tyrrell Tyrrell-Ford Cosworth 25 8th Report
1983 United Kingdom Benetton Tyrrell Team Tyrrell-Ford Cosworth 10 12th Report
1984 Italy Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 30.5 4th Report
1985 Italy Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 53 2nd Report
1986 Italy Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 14 9th Report
1987 Italy Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 14 9th Report
1988 Italy Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 24 5th Report
1989 United Kingdom Tyrrell Racing Organisation Tyrrell-Ford Cosworth 6 13th Report
France Equipe Larrousse Lola-Lamborghini
1990 United Kingdom Footwork Arrows Racing Arrows-Ford Cosworth 0 NC Report
1991 United Kingdom Footwork Grand Prix International Footwork-Porsche 0 NC Report
Footwork-Ford Cosworth
1992 United Kingdom Footwork Grand Prix International Footwork-Mugen-Honda 6 10th Report
1993 Italy Lola BMS Scuderia Italia Lola-Ferrari 0 NC Report
1994 Italy Minardi Scuderia Italia Minardi-Ford 1 25th Report

Statistics[]

Wins[]

No. Race
1 1982 Caesars Palace Grand Prix
2 1983 Detroit Grand Prix
3 1984 Belgian Grand Prix
4 1985 Canadian Grand Prix
5 1985 German Grand Prix

Career Results[]

Complete Formula One Results
Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pts Pos
1981 Flag of the United States Flag of Brazil (1968–1992) Flag of Argentina Flag of San Marino Flag of Belgium Flag of Monaco Flag of Spain 1945 1977 Flag of France Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of Germany Flag of Austria Flag of the Netherlands Flag of Italy Flag of Canada Flag of the United States 0 NC
Ret 12th Ret DNQ 16th Ret DNQ Ret 9th Ret 11th 13th
1982 Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 Flag of Brazil (1968–1992) Flag of the United States Flag of San Marino Flag of Belgium Flag of Monaco Flag of the United States Flag of Canada Flag of the Netherlands Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of France Flag of Germany Flag of Austria Flag of Switzerland Flag of Italy Flag of the United States 25 8th
7th 4th 4th 3rd Ret 10th Ret Ret 7th NC 6th 4th Ret 7th 5th 1st
1983 Flag of Brazil (1968–1992) Flag of the United States Flag of France Flag of San Marino Flag of Monaco Flag of Belgium Flag of the United States Flag of Canada Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of Germany Flag of Austria Flag of the Netherlands Flag of Italy Flag of Europe Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 10 12th
Ret 9th 8th Ret Ret 14th 1st 8th 13th Ret Ret 6th Ret Ret Ret
1984 Flag of Brazil (1968–1992) Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 Flag of Belgium Flag of San Marino Flag of France Flag of Monaco Flag of Canada Flag of the United States Flag of the United States Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of Germany Flag of Austria Flag of the Netherlands Flag of Italy Flag of Europe Flag of Portugal 30.5 4th
Ret 11th 1st Ret Ret 6th
[1]
Ret Ret Ret 5th Ret 3rd Ret 2nd 2nd 4th
1985 Flag of Brazil (1968–1992) Flag of Portugal Flag of San Marino Flag of Monaco Flag of Canada Flag of the United States Flag of France Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of Germany Flag of Austria Flag of the Netherlands Flag of Italy Flag of Belgium Flag of Europe Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 Flag of Australia 53 2nd
2nd 2nd Ret 2nd 1st 3rd Ret 2nd 1st 3rd 4th 13th Ret Ret Ret Ret
1986 Flag of Brazil (1968–1992) Flag of Spain Flag of San Marino Flag of Monaco Flag of Belgium Flag of Canada Flag of the United States Flag of France Flag of Great Britain Flag of Germany Flag of Hungary Flag of Austria Flag of Italy Flag of Portugal Flag of Mexico Flag of Australia 14 9th
Ret Ret 10th Ret 4th 8th 4th 8th Ret Ret Ret 2nd Ret 5th Ret Ret
1987 Flag of Brazil (1968–1992) Flag of San Marino Flag of Belgium Flag of Monaco Flag of the United States Flag of France Flag of Great Britain Flag of Germany Flag of Hungary Flag of Austria Flag of Italy Flag of Portugal Flag of Spain Flag of Mexico Flag of Japan (1870–1999) Flag of Australia 17 7th
8th 3rd Ret 3rd Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 15th Ret 4th 2nd
1988 Flag of Brazil (1968–1992) Flag of San Marino Flag of Monaco Flag of Mexico Flag of Canada Flag of the United States Flag of France Flag of Great Britain Flag of Germany Flag of Hungary Flag of Belgium Flag of Italy Flag of Portugal Flag of Spain Flag of Japan (1870–1999) Flag of Australia 24 5th
5th 18th 3rd 4th Ret Ret 3rd 17th 4th Ret Ret 2nd 5th Ret 11th Ret
1989 Flag of Brazil (1968–1992) Flag of San Marino Flag of Monaco Flag of Mexico Flag of the United States Flag of Canada Flag of France Flag of Great Britain Flag of Germany Flag of Hungary Flag of Belgium Flag of Italy Flag of Portugal Flag of Spain Flag of Japan (1870–1999) Flag of Australia 6 11th
10th DNQ 5th 3rd Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 11th DNPQ DNQ DNPQ
1990 Flag of the United States Flag of Brazil (1968–1992) Flag of San Marino Flag of Monaco Flag of Canada Flag of Mexico Flag of France Flag of Great Britain Flag of Germany Flag of Hungary Flag of Belgium Flag of Italy Flag of Portugal Flag of Spain Flag of Japan (1870–1999) Flag of Australia 0 NC
10th Ret DNQ DNQ Ret 17th 10th Ret Ret 12th 13th 12th 9th 10th Ret DNQ
1991 Flag of the United States Flag of Brazil (1968–1992) Flag of San Marino Flag of Monaco Flag of Canada Flag of Mexico Flag of France Flag of Great Britain Flag of Germany Flag of Hungary Flag of Belgium Flag of Italy Flag of Portugal Flag of Spain Flag of Japan (1870–1999) Flag of Australia 0 NC
Ret DNQ DNQ Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret DNQ DNQ DNPQ DNQ 15th Ret DNQ 13th
[2]
1992 Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 Flag of Mexico Flag of Brazil (1968–1992) Flag of Spain Flag of San Marino Flag of Monaco Flag of Canada Flag of France Flag of Great Britain Flag of Germany Flag of Hungary Flag of Belgium Flag of Italy Flag of Portugal Flag of Japan (1870–1999) Flag of Australia 6 10th
10th 13th 6th 5th 5th 7th 7th 7th 7th 9th 7th Ret 7th 6th 15th Ret
1993 Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 Flag of Brazil Flag of Europe Flag of San Marino Flag of Spain Flag of Monaco Flag of Canada Flag of France Flag of Great Britain Flag of Germany Flag of Hungary Flag of Belgium Flag of Italy Flag of Portugal Flag of Japan (1870–1999) Flag of Australia 0 NC
Ret 11th 11th DNQ DNQ Ret DNQ DNQ DNQ 16th Ret 14th Ret Ret
1994 Flag of Brazil Flag of the Pacific Community Flag of San Marino Flag of Monaco Flag of Spain Flag of Canada Flag of France Flag of Great Britain Flag of Germany Flag of Hungary Flag of Belgium Flag of Italy Flag of Portugal Flag of Europe Flag of Japan Flag of Australia 1 24th
Ret Ret Ret 6th Ret 11th Ret Ret Ret 7th 9th Ret 13th 14th Ret Ret
Key
Symbol Meaning Symbol Meaning
1st Winner Ret Retired
2nd Podium finish DSQ Disqualified
3rd DNQ Did not qualify
5th Points finish DNPQ Did not pre-qualify
14th Non-points finish TD Test driver
Italics Fastest Lap DNS Did not start
18th Classified finish (retired with >90% race distance) NC Non-classified finish (<90% race distance)
4thP Qualified for pole position [+] More Symbols

Notes[]

V T E List of World Drivers' Championship runners-up
1950: Juan Manuel Fangio
1951: Alberto Ascari
1952: Giuseppe Farina
1953: Juan Manuel Fangio
1954: José Froilán González
1955: Stirling Moss
1956: Stirling Moss
1957: Stirling Moss
1958: Stirling Moss
1959: Tony Brooks
1960: Bruce McLaren
1961: Wolfgang von Trips
1962: Jim Clark
1963: Graham Hill
1964: Graham Hill
1965: Graham Hill
1966: John Surtees
1967: Jack Brabham
1968: Jackie Stewart
1969: Jacky Ickx
1970: Jacky Ickx
1971: Ronnie Peterson
1972: Jackie Stewart
1973: Emerson Fittipaldi
1974: Clay Regazzoni
1975: Emerson Fittipaldi
1976: Niki Lauda
1977: Jody Scheckter
1978: Ronnie Peterson
1979: Gilles Villeneuve
1980: Nelson Piquet
1981: Carlos Reutemann
1982: Didier Pironi
1983: Alain Prost
1984: Alain Prost
1985: Michele Alboreto
1986: Nigel Mansell
1987: Nigel Mansell
1988: Alain Prost
1989: Ayrton Senna
1990: Alain Prost
1991: Nigel Mansell
1992: Riccardo Patrese
1993: Ayrton Senna
1994: Damon Hill
1995: Damon Hill
1996: Jacques Villeneuve
1997: Heinz-Harald Frentzen*
1998: Michael Schumacher
1999: Eddie Irvine
2000: Mika Häkkinen
2001: David Coulthard
2002: Rubens Barrichello
2003: Kimi Räikkönen
2004: Rubens Barrichello
2005: Kimi Räikkönen
2006: Michael Schumacher
2007: Lewis Hamilton
2008: Felipe Massa
2009: Sebastian Vettel
2010: Fernando Alonso
2011: Jenson Button
2012: Fernando Alonso
2013: Fernando Alonso
2014: Nico Rosberg
2015: Nico Rosberg
2016: Lewis Hamilton
2017: Sebastian Vettel
2018: Sebastian Vettel
2019: Valtteri Bottas
2020: Valtteri Bottas
2021: Lewis Hamilton
2022: Charles Leclerc
2023: Sergio Pérez
* Michael Schumacher was disqualified from the 1997 championship.

References[]

  1. Race stopped after 31/76 Laps. Half points awarded
  2. Race stopped after 14/81 Laps. Half points awarded
v·d·e Nominate this page for Featured Article
Advertisement