Carlos Reutemann (79) passed away

[White six]

Bottom post of the previous page:

Rip Carlos, curious character

One of the greats is pushing it mind. Let Piquet snatch the title in what was an inferior car imho

[Everso Biggyballies]

Rip Carlos, curious character

One of the greats is pushing it mind. Let Piquet snatch the title in what was an inferior car imho

The only reason Piquet won the title is because Reutemann had the South African win points taken away when the race was later classified non championship. (Despite Bernie's re race promises and reassurances on the grid it was a full championship points race.)

Agreed he was a curious character.

[erwin greven]

Rip Carlos, curious character

One of the greats is pushing it mind. Let Piquet snatch the title in what was an inferior car imho

The Brabham had a suspension system to bypass the rules. The car was fitted with controversial hydropneumatic suspension and water-cooled brakes at different points in its life.

[Ruslan]

But 1981 was not the only title that slipped through his hands. If he had stayed at Ferrari in 1979 instead of moving to Lotus, he could have won the world championship with Ferrari in 1979 and/or 1982.

[White six]

Rip Carlos, curious character

One of the greats is pushing it mind. Let Piquet snatch the title in what was an inferior car imho

The only reason Piquet won the title is because Reutemann had the South African win points taken away when the race was later classified non championship. (Despite Bernie's re race promises and reassurances on the grid it was a full championship points race.)

Agreed he was a curious character.

'later' is definitely pushing it! @Michael Ferner may want to comment.

The teams all turned up with skirts, even though they'd been banned. They were all aware it was a non-championship race

[Hans1962]

RIP Carlos

1975 Zandvoort behind the wheel of his Brabham BT44B at Zandvoort

[Michael Ferner]

Rip Carlos, curious character

One of the greats is pushing it mind. Let Piquet snatch the title in what was an inferior car imho

The only reason Piquet won the title is because Reutemann had the South African win points taken away when the race was later classified non championship. (Despite Bernie's re race promises and reassurances on the grid it was a full championship points race.)

Agreed he was a curious character.

'later' is definitely pushing it! @Michael Ferner may want to comment.

The teams all turned up with skirts, even though they'd been banned. They were all aware it was a non-championship race

Yeah, quite right! I don't recall all the details, but it was very shortly after the Concorde Agreement, and the WC was to start not earlier than March 15 due to the necessary modifications to the cars. Kyalami couldn't or wouldn't postpone, and held Ecclestone to his contract, so FOCA had to send their cars, and pretend that it was a full GP to keep staff motivation up. Didn't really work, as I recall, nobody was fooled and if I'm not mistaken one or two drivers even called in sick. A German magazine reported a short dialogue between Reutemann and Williams after the race, the gist of which was: "I drove my ass off today for nothing" - "No, you'll get your nine points, I promise" - "Bugger off"...

Interestingly, they not only all used skirts (which were banned), but also Goodyear tyres despite GY having pulled out of racing several weeks before - everybody had to scrap for leftover covers from recent test sessions!

[White six]

Rip Carlos, curious character

One of the greats is pushing it mind. Let Piquet snatch the title in what was an inferior car imho

The only reason Piquet won the title is because Reutemann had the South African win points taken away when the race was later classified non championship. (Despite Bernie's re race promises and reassurances on the grid it was a full championship points race.)

Agreed he was a curious character.

'later' is definitely pushing it! @Michael Ferner may want to comment.

The teams all turned up with skirts, even though they'd been banned. They were all aware it was a non-championship race

Yeah, quite right! I don't recall all the details, but it was very shortly after the Concorde Agreement, and the WC was to start not earlier than March 15 due to the necessary modifications to the cars. Kyalami couldn't or wouldn't postpone, and held Ecclestone to his contract, so FOCA had to send their cars, and pretend that it was a full GP to keep staff motivation up. Didn't really work, as I recall, nobody was fooled and if I'm not mistaken one or two drivers even called in sick. A German magazine reported a short dialogue between Reutemann and Williams after the race, the gist of which was: "I drove my ass off today for nothing" - "No, you'll get your nine points, I promise" - "Bugger off"...

Interestingly, they not only all used skirts (which were banned), but also Goodyear tyres despite GY having pulled out of racing several weeks before - everybody had to scrap for leftover covers from recent test sessions!

They even let a WOMAN race, how could that be taken seriously

I watched it last year in lockdown, Piquet was scooting off into the distance before tyre trouble, must have been the leftover goodyears.

[duvel]

Very sad about Carlos, and he was a very good driver of course
Enigmatic character? Probably yes, but I think that Ferrari years put an emphasis about...not that relaxing being part of the "Scuderia" expecially for being minute after minute into the focus of a certain press...yes, he wasn't an Italian driver (too...)