They’re the daredevils of the track, driving recklessly, endangering others with their antics, and causing a fair share of car wrecks. They’re often the supporting cast, occasionally the victors, but rarely the champions. They’re timeless figures, even in today’s world. They are the Bad Boys of F1. Today, we spotlight one such Bad Boy of Formula 1: Vittorio Brambilla.
In the 1970s, the sight of the distinctive orange March in the rearview mirror was enough to make many drivers leave a clear gap when braking for a corner. This was to ensure that Vittorio Brambilla could pass. If you didn’t, Brambilla would make sure he got past anyway.
At least to some extent, as such maneuvers often ended with two crumpled Formula 1 cars. Brambilla was the kind of driver you’d rather follow than lead. But it was best to stay completely clear of the ‘Monza Gorilla’.
Brambilla Wins – And Crashes After the Finish
After his successful 1975 season, in which he claimed his only Grand Prix victory – and crashed after the finish line – Brambilla had to make do with increasingly inferior equipment. In his eagerness to maintain speed, accidents became more frequent. The most serious of these was not his fault, but he was almost the main victim.
After the start crash at the Monza race in 1978, initial concern was primarily for Brambilla, not so much for Ronnie Peterson, who later died from the crash’s aftermath. Brambilla had been hit in the head by a broken wheel and was unconscious for some time. However, the Italian recovered fully and briefly returned to Alfa Romeo, where he continued his crash-prone ways.
The ‘Monza Gorilla’ passed away in 2001 from a heart attack while working in his garden.
