So it was very difficult to understand, quite honestly." And when we took it apart there was not a single damaged (gear) dog everything was in immaculate condition. The team's co-founder and technical director Patrick Head told BBC Sport: "The chief mechanic went and drove the car back in and said he couldn't feel anything wrong with it. Reutemann's performance that day remains clouded in mystery - he complained of gearbox trouble, but after the race Williams could not find a single thing wrong with the car. Reutemann driving for Ferrari at the Spanish Grand Prix in 1978.
Badly affected by the heat and suffering from exhaustion, the Brazilian's head was lolling around in the cockpit, but he managed to bring the Brabham home fifth to clinch the title. They went to the final race in Las Vegas with Reutemann leading by a point and needing only to beat Piquet to win the title.īut after qualifying on pole position, Reutemann slumped in the race, down to fourth by the first corner and finishing eighth, lapped by his team-mate Alan Jones, who won.
F1 MANAGER 1999 DRIVER
Reutemann, driving for Williams, had been engaged in a season-long battle with the Brazilian Brabham driver Nelson Piquet. He could be brilliant and untouchable one day and anonymous the next, a reputation that followed him throughout his career and which was never more obvious than in the final race of the 1981 season. Reutemann, whose film-star looks helped him to become one of the most charismatic figures of his era, was as known for his mysterious personality as for his skills behind the wheel. The FIA tweeted: "He was a big part of our sport for many years and was a fighter to the end.
He finished runner-up in the 1981 championship and third in 1975 with Brabham, 1978 for Ferrari and 1980 at Williams. He added six pole positions and a total of 45 podium finishes to his 12 wins.
F1 MANAGER 1999 DRIVERS
He drove 146 races for the Brabham, Lotus, Ferrari and Williams teams and was regarded as one of the fastest drivers of his day. Reutemann rose to prominence as a racing driver, entering Formula 1 in 1972 at the relatively late age of 29 and remaining among the top names in the sport throughout his decade of involvement. He was a senator for the Justicialist Party from 2003 until his death. Upon retiring abruptly in 1982, Reutemann went into politics and had two terms as governor of his native Santa Fe province. He was known for his huge talent but enigmatic character.
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