F1 Classic

Gilles Villeneuve egy szenzációs bemutatkozás után, amit Silverstone-ban abszolvált egy McLaren M23-assal, 1977 végén a Ferrarinál találta magát. Lauda már megnyerte a bajnokságot, és faképnél hagyta a Commendatorét, aki Villeneuve-öt ültette a helyére. Az immár kétszeres világbajnok osztrák a…

A chat with Pino Allievi who knew Enzo Ferrari from the end of 1960s.    Enzo Ferrari and Pino Allievi (right) at a press meeting © La Gazzetta dello Sport   When did you first meet Enzo Ferrari? It was the end of the 1960s in Monza. I was not a journalist yet, I studied. He came for some…

  Race Engineer of Didier Pironi gave some personal background information for the better understanding to the relationship of the famous Ferrari teammates.   1981 was the first year with the turbo engine. Gilles won two races but Didier had too many problems. Why? It was the first year with the…

Françoise Conconi was the co-pilote of France’s most famous female rally driver, Michèle Mouton. Beside contesting she worked as a television journalist and in this capacity she met several times Gilles Villeneuve. What was your impressions of him? First I met Gilles on the Monaco circuit…

Walter Wolf worked together with Villeneuve in CanAm in 1977. And then he paved Gilles’ way to Maranello. We spoke on phone in November 2015. How do you remember meeting Gilles for the first time?I met him first in Formula Atlantic. Then he drove for me in CanAm. One day I got a call from…

Günther Steiner, Sporting Director of new Haas F1 Team about their homework and prospects. Interview by Károly Méhes How does one build up a new Formula 1 team? The main steps are: you make a plan, you secure the finances. Then with all this you go to FIA to get the licence to enter F1. This…

Nigel Mansell, World Champion in 1992, was a young friend of Gilles Villeneuve both on and off track. Il Leone is still very proud to have driven the famous number ‘27’ Ferrari during his years with the team.   Formula One was your natural goal and you made it in 1980. What did you think of…

Carlos Reutemann was Gilles’ first team mate at Ferrari. Now an Argintinian Senator, Lole remembers fondly his former Canadian colleague. Do you remember Gilles’ arrival at Ferrari? It was at the end of 1977 when Niki stopped. Gilles was then signed for the next season. We practiced a lot…

Gordon Kirby had the privilege of having a close working relation with Gilles from the beginnings of his career. Even today he has contact with Gilles’ family. What was the scene in the mid 1970s in the USA and Canada where Gilles made his mark? Looking back, it’s clear now that American…

Andrea de Cesaris is one of the most experienced drivers in Grand Prix history with 208 starts. As a new driver on the Grand Prix circuit he witnessed Gilles Villeneuve’s last season in Formula One. When you arrived in Formula 1 at the start of 1981 Gilles was already a star. How did you see…

René Arnoux is known for many great drives in Formula One, but there is one in particular that stands out in the memories of all Formula One fans...Dijon 1979!   What is your first recollection of Gilles Villeneuve? When did you meet him? I don’t remember exactly. Probably I saw him first…

Sir Jackie Stewart liked Gilles Villeneuve a lot as a person and admits he was an exciting driver, but doesn’t count him among the greatest. What is your first memory of Gilles Villeneuve? My strongest memory is of him when we flew home in his helicopter from Imola. There was…

Five-time Grand Prix winner and runner up in the ”nightmare” 1982 World Championship, John Watson moved on to commentate on Formula One for the Eurosport. In true John Watson fashion he has a firm opinion on Gilles Villeneuve.   In 1977 at Silverstone Gilles Villeneuve appeared in Formula 1.…

Sergio Vezzali was a Ferrari mechanic from 1958 to 1993. He was responsible for Gilles Villeneuve’s cars while he drove for Ferrari. Still living in Maranello, Vezzali, now 81, fondly remembers Gilles.   When did you first meet Gilles? On the very first day he came to Maranello. He had his…

Chris Amon was among those who recognised Gilles Villeneuves’s talent very early. What’s more, he adviced his team boss to hire Gilles intead of himself. That’s how he remembers all this. Where and when did you get to know Gilles? I knew of Gilles from his exploits in Formula Atlantic and…

Bobby Rahal was one of Gilles Villeneuve's hardest opponents in America. This is how he recalls their early days. You raced many times against Gilles. Do you remember the first time? Did he come with a reputation? The first time I raced against Gilles was the opening round of the 1975 Player's…

Frank Dernie an engineer for the Williams Grand Prix team during the era when Gilles Villeneuve was at his peak with Ferrari. This is how he saw Gilles looking from the Williams team.   As a young engineer how did you rate Gilles when he arrived in F1? Gilles had a reputation as a carefree guy…

Jeff V. Hutchinson was a prominent member of Formula 1 journalists who followed the sport during the romatic era of the 1970s and 1980s. He has his own view of Gilles Villeneuve. Did Ferrari take a big risk hiring Villeneuve to replace Lauda at the end of 1977? Not really, he was obviously a…

A young man from Berthierville became an adoring fan of Gilles Villeneuve. After his hero’s death he began to organize a museum for Gilles. Today, Alain Bellehumeur is the curator of that museum. When did you catch the Villeneuve fever? My first job was a journalist. Barely out of school, I…

Alan Jones, Formula 1 World Champion of 1980. He had many classic fights against Gilles Villeneuve. That’s how he recalls the Canadian in 2014 from Down Under.   Lets start with 1977 when Niki Lauda resigned from Ferrari; there were a hint that you were considered as his replacement. Is there…

Mario Andretti, World Champion of 1978, at 74 years of age, is a living legend of Formula One. He spoke to me about an another legend who died at just 32: Gilles Villeneuve. Villeneuve A Racing Legend! Buy the Book http://t.co/dSK6XzxVPU   What is your first memory of Gilles? It was when he…

Ercole Colombo is one the big names among Formula One photographers. A long serving witness with his camera who was and still is a devoted admirer of  Gilles Villeneuve.  Villeneuve A Racing Legend! Buy the Book http://t.co/dSK6XzxVPU When did you first meet Gilles? What was your first…

Mauro Forghieri was chief designer at Ferrari between 1962-1985. He worked together with Gilles Villeneuve for the entire carreer of the Canadian idol. That is how he spoke about him to me.    What was you opinion on Gilles after the first meetings and tests in Fiorano? He was a real novice but…

Mára teljesen feledésbe merült: 1977-ben, az USA Nagydíj után az immár kétszeres világbajnok Niki Lauda meglátogatta Muhammad Alit. Hallottál róla? Muhammad Ali mindig is szívesen hirdette magáról: – I am the greatest! Én vagyok a legnagyobb. Ám csodák csodájára 1977-ben az…

World Champion Jody Scheckter was Gilles' teammate at Ferrari in 1979/80. In this interview he gave me recently he recalls their times together 35 years ago... - Before you signed for Ferrari you already had a season together in 1978 - you with Wolf, Gilles at Ferrari. How did you see him in his…