It was 41 years ago, Gilles Villeneuve lost his life
It has been exactly 41 years to the day since Canadian driver Gilles Villeneuve lost his life on the Zolder race track. Let's take a look back at the events that led to the death of the "little prince" of Formula 1.
Gilles Villeneuve was born in 1950 during the year of the first championship in the small town of Berthierville, less than an hour away from the circuit which now bears his name in Canada.
His undeniable talent propelled him into Formula 1 in 1977. At that time, Villeneuve was still driving in Formula Atlantic when McLaren offered him the opportunity to make his Formula 1 debut at the British Grand Prix, held at Silverstone, in the third car of the team, the McLaren Ford M23. Even though he did not shine in this race, Enzo Ferrari offered him a test that proved to be successful. Gilles Villeneuve would drive for Ferrari during the last two races of the 1977 season.
Signing with Ferrari, the Canadian won 6 Grand Prix and stood on the podium 13 times between 1977 and 1982. There was no doubt at the time in the paddocks and within the F1 microcosm that Gilles Villeneuve was a future world champion. Although Villeneuve had some up-and-down seasons (1978 and 1980), he still finished as Vice World Champion in 1979 and, above all, gained recognition from the public thanks to his spectacular driving.
He achieved his first victory in 1978, in front of his home crowd, during the inaugural race of the circuit that now bears his name. Despite his mastery behind the wheel of a single-seater, events are going to take a dramatic turn for the Canadian driver.
A tense San Marino Grand Prix
At the dawn of the 1982 season, Gilles is presented as one of the top favorites for the title, given the progress of his car, the Ferrari 126 C2. Dominated by Alain Prost in the first few races, Villeneuve is determined to make up for it during the San Marino Grand Prix. Taking advantage of Prost’s retirement, he takes the lead just ahead of his teammate and friend Didier Pironi. While the Italian team asks both drivers not to attack each other and maintain their positions, Pironi surprises Villeneuve by attacking him. Didier Pironi wins the race, much to the disappointment of the Canadian. Gilles refuses to greet his teammate on the podium and, feeling betrayed, is determined to seek revenge.
The tragic accident of Gilles Villeneuve
That day, on Saturday, May 8, 1982, it was the 5th round of the F1 World Championship taking place at the Belgian Zolder circuit. This Belgian Grand Prix was eagerly awaited in order to assess how much Pironi’s actions had affected the relationship between the two men, who were originally friends but suddenly became rivals, both aiming for a championship title behind the wheel of a finally competitive Ferrari 126 C2.
Always furious with his friend, Villeneuve tries by all means to outdo Pironi’s time during the qualifying sessions. Going full throttle, he violently collides with Jochen Mass’ March car. The Ferrari takes off several meters high and lands heavily in a series of somersaults. Gilles Villeneuve is ejected from the vehicle in mid-air and dies at the age of 32, with his cervical vertebrae broken. The Formula 1 world is in mourning.
Several tributes persist over time, notably on the Montreal circuit, the scene of his first Formula 1 success, which was renamed the Gilles Villeneuve circuit a few weeks after his passing, with the inscription “Salut Gilles” (Hello Gilles) painted on the starting grid. A museum is also dedicated to him in Berthierville, the city of his birth.
Hi Gilles.
