Carlos Reutemann
Carlos Reutemann | |
|---|---|
| Born | Carlos Alberto Reutemann 12 April 1942 Santa Fe, Argentina |
| Died | 7 July 2021 (aged 79) Santa Fe, Argentina |
| Other names | Lole |
| Occupation(s) | Racing driver, politician |
| Years active | 1972–1982 (Formula One), later political career until 2021 |
| Known for | Formula One driver, Governor of Santa Fe, National Senator |
Carlos Alberto "Lole" Reutemann (12 April 1942 – 7 July 2021) was an Argentine racing driver and political figure who participated in Formula One between 1972 and 1982, later serving as Governor of Santa Fe from 1999 until 2003. During his F1 career, Reutemann finished as runner-up in the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 1981 with Williams, and upon retiring held the record for the highest number of podium finishes (45). Over 11 seasons, he secured 12 Grand Prix victories. Affiliated with the Justicialist Party, he represented Santa Fe as a National Senator from 2003 until his passing in 2021.
Throughout his driving tenure, Reutemann was consistently among Formula One's elite competitors from 1972 through 1982, achieving six pole positions alongside his dozen Grand Prix wins. In the 1981 championship, he narrowly missed the title by a single point while racing for Williams, losing out during the final round. He also secured third place in the overall standings on three occasions with different teams: in 1975 with Brabham, in 1977 with Ferrari, and again in 1980 with Williams. Notably, he remains the last Argentine to have won a Grand Prix.
His peak season for victories was in 1978 driving for Ferrari, where he claimed four wins but ultimately lost the championship to Lotus drivers Mario Andretti and Ronnie Peterson due to their consistent performances. In 1981, Reutemann’s approach focused on steady results but narrowly fell short against Nelson Piquet. Beyond Formula One, he also earned podium finishes in World Rally Championship events, finishing third twice at Rally Argentina in 1980 and 1985. This made him one of the rare drivers to score points across both F1 and WRC disciplines until surpassed by Kimi Räikkönen in 2010.
In his political career, Reutemann was regarded as a well-liked governor and senator, often considered a viable presidential contender. Although he considered entering the race for the 2011 Argentine general election, he ultimately chose not to run. He died in Santa Fe on 7 July 2021 due to complications stemming from a haemorrhage.
Early years
With roots tracing back to a Swiss-German grandfather, an Argentine father, and an Italian mother, Reutemann became Argentina’s first prominent Formula One driver since five-time World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio retired in 1958. His motorsport journey began in 1965 behind the wheel of a Fiat saloon car. After competing domestically in touring cars and Formula 2, he relocated to Europe in 1970 to pilot a Brabham for the Automobile Club of Argentina Team within the European Formula 2 circuit. He garnered attention by finishing fourth at Hockenheim despite an early collision involving Jochen Rindt. The next year, he narrowly missed out on winning the series championship, finishing second behind Ronnie Peterson.
Formula One: early years
Brabham’s team principal Bernie Ecclestone signed Reutemann for the 1972 F1 season to partner two-time World Champion Graham Hill. At his first race—the Argentine Grand Prix—Reutemann qualified his Brabham BT34 on pole position, a feat previously achieved only by Mario Andretti and later by Jacques Villeneuve; Hill qualified a distant sixteenth. He finished seventh after making a pit stop to change soft tyres and went on to win that year’s non-championship Interlagos Grand Prix.
In the following season of 1973, paired with Wilson Fittipaldi Jr., Reutemann earned two podium finishes and ended seventh in the Drivers' Championship driving Gordon Murray’s innovative BT42 car. The next year saw further progress as Murray’s upgraded BT44 helped Brabham secure fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship. Reutemann captured his first three career wins at South Africa, Austria, and the United States Grands Prix. Although his win tally matched that of champion Emerson Fittipaldi, inconsistent results dropped him to sixth overall.
The 1975 campaign featured five podiums including a victory at Germany’s Nürburgring circuit, which earned him third place in the championship standings. However, Brabham’s introduction of the Alfa Romeo flat-12 engine in 1976 led to numerous mechanical failures; after seven retirements and just one points finish across twelve races, Reutemann negotiated an exit from Brabham to join Ferrari temporarily as cover for injured Niki Lauda. Lauda’s rapid recovery limited Reutemann’s appearances to a single race that season.
For the 1977 season, Ferrari retained Lauda and signed Reutemann as replacement for Clay Regazzoni. Starting strongly with a third-place finish at Argentina followed by a win in Brazil—where an innovative rear wing gave him an advantage over Lauda—he briefly led the championship standings. Nonetheless, Lauda reclaimed leadership within Ferrari and secured his second world title; Reutemann concluded fourth overall without additional victories. His working relationship with Ferrari’s chief engineer Mauro Forghieri was reportedly tense despite consistent points scoring.
With Lauda transferring to Brabham for 1978, Reutemann assumed Ferrari’s lead driver role alongside Gilles Villeneuve. That year he won four Grands Prix—Brazil, Britain (Brands Hatch), Long Beach, and Watkins Glen—piloting Ferrari’s progressively improved 312T series cars. His Brands Hatch triumph was notable for overtaking Lauda after delays caused by backmarkers. Despite these successes, Lotus dominated using their groundbreaking Lotus 79 design; Reutemann finished third in the drivers’ championship while also surviving a serious crash at Spain caused by tyre failure.
In 1979, following Ronnie Peterson’s tragic death, Reutemann moved to Lotus. Early results included second-place finishes at Argentina and Spain plus third places at Brazil and Monaco. However, Lotus struggled overall as Jody Scheckter clinched the championship driving for Ferrari. After accumulating four podiums and six points finishes over seven races, Reutemann ended seventh in the standings. His departure from Ferrari coincided with that team’s resurgence powered by the competitive 312T4 model which secured multiple first and second place finishes that season.
Career at Williams
Reutemann’s move to the Williams outfit in the 1980 season reunited him with a highly competitive car, the swift FW07. Although his home Grand Prix in Buenos Aires began poorly due to engine failure, he quickly recovered by winning the Monaco Grand Prix and achieving eight podium finishes, ultimately securing third place in the drivers’ standings. His partnership with reigning World Champion teammate Alan Jones was instrumental in Williams capturing their inaugural Constructors' Championship with a record total of 120 points.
In 1981, friction emerged when Reutemann defied team instructions by not yielding victory to Jones at the Brazilian GP, causing strain within the team. Nevertheless, Reutemann outperformed Jones across most of the season, claiming wins in Brazil and at the Belgian GP, positioning himself as a serious contender for the title alongside rivals Nelson Piquet and Jacques Laffite heading into the decisive race in Las Vegas. A pivotal incident occurred in Germany when mechanical problems forced Reutemann to surrender his car to Jones; switching to a spare vehicle that subsequently suffered engine failure cost him crucial championship points.
Arriving at Las Vegas with a slender one-point advantage over Piquet, Reutemann secured pole position but battled gearbox difficulties during the race, finishing eighth and ultimately relinquishing the championship to Piquet. It is noteworthy that had the contentious 1981 South African GP counted toward points, Reutemann would have claimed the title. Continuing with Williams in 1982, he finished runner-up at the South African GP as the sole Cosworth-powered driver able to challenge turbocharged competitors. However, amid escalating political tensions from the Falklands War between Argentina and the UK, Reutemann distanced himself from Williams and retired following the Brazilian GP. While some interpreted this as a calculated political pivot, Williams’s Chief Designer Patrick Head believed it reflected a diminished enthusiasm for racing.
After stepping away from competition, Reutemann tested a modified Ligier JS21 equipped with Renault’s new turbo engine at Paul Ricard towards the end of 1983 but did not return to active racing in 1984.
Formula One: legacy
A 2016 academic evaluation ranked Reutemann as the 27th greatest Formula One driver of all time, assessing both driver skill and machine performance.
Rallying career
During his 1980 F1 campaign, Fiat invited Reutemann to participate in the inaugural 1980 Codasur Rally (now Rally Argentina), where he achieved a third-place finish. In 1985, Peugeot once again enlisted him for the Argentinian Rally, this time driving a 205 T16 and securing another third-place result.
Political career
Following his retirement from motorsport, Reutemann capitalized on his widespread popularity to embark on a political career with the Justicialist Party in Santa Fe Province. He served two gubernatorial terms (1991–1995 and 1999–2003). His second tenure coincided with Argentina’s economic downturn and the 2001 crisis; during this period, Santa Fe adhered to conservative fiscal policies under his leadership, including wage freezes and cautious debt management by avoiding excessive government bond issuance.
After the 2001 crisis and President de la Rúa’s resignation, Reutemann initially declined presidential candidacy but later won a seat in the National Senate during the 2003 general election. He maintained a low profile throughout the 2005 legislative elections, which contributed to the Justicialist Party losing ground to the Socialist Party within Santa Fe. He also chose not to pursue another gubernatorial run in 2007.
On 1 January 2006, Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi bestowed upon him the title of Commendatore della Repubblica.
In July 2008, Reutemann introduced an alternative agricultural commission proposal opposing Vice-President Julio Cobos’s initiative; following its rejection, he left the Frente para la Victoria bloc in February 2009 to establish "Santa Fe Federal," prioritizing provincial concerns.
He secured re-election to the Senate in both 2009 and 2015, aligning himself with the Cambiemos coalition and endorsing Mauricio Macri’s presidential bid. Reutemann passed away while still holding office in 2021 and was succeeded by María Alejandra Vucasovich.
Death
In May 2021, Reutemann was admitted to the hospital due to an intestinal bleed. His health worsened as he developed several complications such as anaemia, dehydration, hypoalbuminemia, unstable haemodynamics, and significant weight loss. He passed away on 7 July 2021 at the age of 79, with his daughter announcing the news on social media platforms.
Leaders from various major Argentine political parties, including former presidents Mauricio Macri, Alberto Fernández, and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, publicly offered their condolences.
Career summary
| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | European Formula Two | Automovil Club Argentino | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13th |
| 1971 | European Formula Two | Automovil Club Argentino | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 38 | 2nd |
| 1972 | Formula One | Motor Racing Developments (Brabham) | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 16th |
| European Formula Two | Motul Rondel Racing | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 26 | 4th | |
| 1973 | Formula One | Motor Racing Developments (Brabham) | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 7th |
| 24 Hours of Le Mans
(Ferrari) |
1
DNF |
- |
1974 | (Brabham Formula One)
14 races, 3 victories, 1 pole position, 1 fastest lap, 4 podium finishes, 32 points total, finished 6th overall | |||||
| (Hitachi Team Brabham)
Participated in 1 race without wins, poles, fastest laps, or podiums | |||||||||
| (Martini Racing Brabham)
14 events with 1 win and 6 podiums; no poles or fastest laps; accumulated 37 points; achieved 3rd place overall | |||||||||
| (Martini Racing Brabham)
12 races without wins, poles, fastest laps, or podiums; scored 3 points; placed 16th | |||||||||
| - | (SEFAC Ferrari) Competed in 17 races securing 1 victory and 6 podium finishes; earned 42 points and finished 4th overall | | ||||||||
| - | 1980 |(Albilad Williams Racing) Contested in 14 races with 1 victory, 1 fastest lap, and 8 podiums; totaled 42 points and secured 3rd place |- | - | |||||||
Complete Formula One World Championship results
(legend) (Races highlighted in bold denote pole positions, while those in italics represent fastest laps)
Non-championship Formula One outcomes
(key) (Events highlighted in bold denote pole position, while those in italics signify the fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Points | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Motor Racing Developments | Brabham BT34 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ARG |
RSA |
ESP | MON | 16th | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brabham BT37 | BEL |
FRA |
GBR |
GER |
AUT |
ITA |
CAN |
USA |
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| 1973 | Motor Racing Developments | Brabham BT37 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ARG |
BRA |
RSA |
- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ESP |
BEL |
MON |
SWE |
FRA |
GBR |
NED |
GER |
AUT |
ITA |
CAN |
USA |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Ecurie Bonnier | McLaren M7C | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ARG 3rd |
ROC | QUE | SPR | INT | RIN | OUL | |
| Motor Racing Developments | Brabham BT33 | VIC 9th | |||||||||
| 1972 | Motor Racing Developments | Brabham BT34 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ROC | BRA 1st |
INT | OUL | REP | |||
| Brabham BT37 | VIC 10th |
||||||||||
| 1974 | Motor Racing Developments | Brabham BT44 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | PRE Retired |
ROC Retired |
INT | |||||
| 1975 | Martini Racing | Brabham BT44B | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ROC | INT 8th |
SUI | |||||
| 1979 | Martini Racing - Team Lotus | Team Lotus 79 | Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 1979 Race of Champions | Gunnar Nilsson Memorial Trophy | 1979 Dino Ferrari Grand Prix 2nd |
|||||
| 1980 | Saudi Arabian Airlines -WilliamsF1 | WilliamsF1 Williams FW07B | Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 1980 Spanish Grand Prix Retired |
|||||||
| 1981 | Saudi Arabian Airlines -WilliamsF1 | WilliamsF1 Williams FW07C | Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 1981 South African Grand Prix 1st |
|||||||
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Full 24 Hours of Le Mans Results
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Vehicle | Category | Completed Laps | Overall Result | Category Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Template:Country data ITATemplate:Namespace detect showall SpA Ferrari SEFAC | Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showall Tim Schenken | Ferrari 312PB | S 3.0 | 182 | DNF | DNF |
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Complete WRC Performance
| Year | Team Entry | Vehicle Model | Event 1 | Event 2 | Event 3 | Event 4 | Event 5 | Event 6 | Event 7 | Event 8 | Event 9 | Event 10 | Event 11 | Event 12 | World Drivers' Championship Position | Championship Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Fiat Italia | Fiat 131 Abarth | 1980 Monte Carlo Rally | 1980 Swedish Rally | 1980 Rally Portugal | 1980 Safari Rally | 1980 Acropolis Rally | 1980 Rally Argentina 3rd |
1980 1000 Lakes Rally | 1980 Rally New Zealand | 1980 Rallye Sanremo | 1980 Tour de Corse | 1980 RAC Rally | 1980 Rallye Côte d'Ivoire | 21st | 12 |
| 1985 | Peugeot Talbot Sport | Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 | 1985 Monte Carlo Rally | 1985 Swedish Rally | 1985 Rally Portugal | 1985 Safari Rally | 1985 Tour de Corse | 1985 Acropolis Rally | 1985 Rally New Zealand | 1985 Rally Argentina 3rd |
1985 1000 Lakes Rally | 1985 Rallye Sanremo | 1985 Rallye Côte d'Ivoire | 1985 RAC Rally | 18th | 12 |
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