Autosport 75: Remembering Gilles Villeneuve's Tragic Loss
Long-time readers of this column will have observed—indeed, they couldn’t possibly have missed—that over the years Gilles Villeneuve has appeared here far more frequently than any other figure in motorsports. I see no reason to apologize for this, but I want to attempt to clarify why it was unavoidable.
Right from the beginning, it was clear to me and to numerous others that Gilles possessed star quality. I recall witnessing him throw that ball. McLaren During tests at Silverstone in 1977 with the M23, many times he lost control, regained his composure, shifted into first gear, and sped off once more.
At first sight there seemed to be a desperation about his driving, and I found it somewhat chilling. But two things about it were impressive: he never hit anything, and while he was on the road he was mighty quick. The spins were not the result of being out of his depth.
“Jesus, I spun so many times in the M23,” he would giggle, looking back on it. “But you have to remember the position I was in. All I could think of was getting out of [Formula] Atlantic, making it to Europe, getting into Formula 1. This looked to me like my only chance.
I was scheduled to participate in four races with McLaren in 1977, but ultimately ended up racing in just one. I had to get acquainted with both the vehicle and the circuit rapidly—I felt an urgent need to make a strong impression during this single event. The fastest method for understanding the boundaries of the M23’s performance was to progressively increase my speed around corners until the car began to spin... This way, I could determine exactly where those limits lay.
Certainly, he made an impression at Silverstone during both practice sessions and the race. Securing a McLaren contract for 1978 seemed almost certain, yet Teddy Mayer made one of his most puzzling choices, deciding to sign Patrick Tambay instead.
And so it came to be that the tale of Villeneuve took shape. Ferrari It all began when he joined Maranello; this affiliation instantly lent any driver an air of allure, yet Gilles seemed destined for greatness within those walls since day one. Throughout 1978, he persisted in pushing beyond boundaries, often leading to numerous crashes. However, his crew merely exchanged shrugs and grins before diving into reconstruction efforts. They had grown fond of the diminutive racer, recognizing just how fiercely he was pouring his heart and soul into every race.
It was, ironically, at Zolder that year that I first got to know him. Here, I felt, was someone central to the sport’s coming years, and I wanted to interview him before he became spoiled. In fact, of course, he never did.
Despite being overlooked at McLaren, Villeneuve felt immediately at ease with Ferrari in 1978.
Photo by: Ercole Colombo
We sat for a couple of hours in the Ferrari transporter, and I found much of what he had to say pretty startling. He had recently walked away from a big shunt in the tunnel at Monte Carlo, and I had been amazed by his coolness immediately afterwards.
I'm not worried about crashing," he stated calmly. "I never imagine getting injured. That just doesn't seem likely." But come on, I countered, surely you don't really feel like that. "Absolutely!" he responded. "How could you perform your duties correctly if you constantly think something bad might happen to you?
“If you’re never over eight-tenths or whatever, because you’re thinking about a shunt, you’re not going as quick as you can. Most of the guys in Formula 1… well, to me, they’re not racing drivers. They’re doing half a job, and I can’t figure why they do it at all…”
Gilles firmly believed that his approach to risk-taking originated during his snowmobiling years: "We used to race these machines at speeds of up to 100 mph, and we frequently found ourselves being tossed off onto the ice. It definitely toughens your spirit, I assure you."
Gilles placed great importance on the stability of his family life. Having his children around brought him joy, and he found solace in Joanne being present as well. Naturally, she didn’t accompany him to Belgium, which was certainly fortunate.
Snomobiling also provided him with the funds to begin car racing. He wasn't born into wealth, and despite amassing considerable riches later on, money never altered him. Another aspect I admired about him was this, along with his understated commitment to adhering to his personal principles.
For example, there was the camper enthusiast. Gilles detested lavish hotels due to multiple factors. Firstly, he found sleep came more easily in his familiar bed; secondly, he favored burgers, steaks, and milkshakes over gourmet dishes; thirdly, enduring daily traffic jams held little appeal for him; additionally, he enjoyed being near his vehicles so as to keep an eye on things, thereby ensuring the admiration of his crew members; finally, to put it frankly, he had little fondness for many individuals involved in Grand Prix racing and thus chose places where such crowds did not gather.
"Hey! Take Off Your Shoes!" Those who weren’t familiar with the Villeneuve camper quickly learned its house rules. You removed your footwear and placed them neatly by the entrance.
Roebuck felt money and fame never changed Villeneuve during his career
Photo by: David Phipps
Well," he would remark, "we reside here. I prefer not having people track dirt all over our rug. Besides," we would chime in with that well-known smile, "guests find it awkward standing around barefoot—so they tend not to linger!
Gilles placed great importance on the stability of his family life. He enjoyed having his children around, and Joanne’s company put him at ease. Naturally, she didn’t accompany him to Belgium, which he appreciated.
Gilles appeared somewhat nervous at Zolder; there was no doubt about that. "I don't sense tension, not at all," he stated on Friday, "but things are different. Up until now, the ambiance within the team has been relaxed, yet following Imola, it cannot remain so."
The most heartbreaking part of Gilles's passing is that his final days were filled with such disappointment. He had long dreamed of securing a victory for Ferrari in Italy, a place where the fans held him in an astonishingly passionate regard.
In Imola, he confronted Rene Arnoux aggressively but ended up being outmaneuvered by Didier Pironi on the last lap after believing they had secured an easy victory. It would have been gratifying for him to finish his career with another win.
There is no doubt that, at Zolder, his main task of the weekend was to establish how things were going to be in the future. I was in the Ferrari pit when he left it for the last time. Tragedy very often amplifies hindsight, but I sensed the tension within him as he sat there, waiting for the right moment. Around him the photographers jostled, yet he sat there in the cockpit, perfectly still, eyes straight ahead. ‘GV very composed, waiting,’ says my notebook.
Typically, GV remained quite calm. "They call me insane because I occasionally go off course. Let me assure you, a Ferrari driver who hasn't gone off track in the past five years wouldn't be much of a racer! Allow me to share something; I recall Phil Hill mentioning back in 1961 that he would gladly trade some of his power for better handling like those British cars had. Trust me, I understand exactly where he was coming from..."
This encapsulates everything. Throughout his entire Grand Prix career, Gilles never had a car as competitive as the top-tier vehicles. Often, he entered races aware that he needed to make tyre stops, but he still pushed hard both before and after these stops.
The recurring sight of Villeneuve grappling with his Ferrari became commonplace.
Photo by: Ercole Colombo
I believe I can truthfully say that I've never experienced engine failure throughout my entire racing career, and I'm very proud of that. Even when running tenth in an underperforming vehicle, you can still enjoy yourself—though this doesn’t apply if your engine fails. Seeing some drivers out there...I often question how they justify accepting their salaries!
Of course, Gilles amassed considerable wealth, yet he chose to live modestly. Indeed, after residing temporarily in a leased house close to Cannes, he established his residence in Monte Carlo and owned a cabin in the mountains. Besides these, the sole luxury in his life was his cherished Agusta helicopter.
I was never interested in a typical airplane," he would say. "Being inherentlylazy, I appreciate the ease and convenience offered by a helicopter.
His flying style was reminiscent of Villeneuve’s finesse. For example, during the Austrian Grand Prix last year, after withdrawing from the competition, he decided to take off towards Monaco instead of heading back. He spent some time circling over a few turns, acknowledged the pit lane with a bow, and then departed gracefully.
While Gilles was on the track, he was the focal point. You knew that, whatever the circumstances, he would be worth watching through a corner
"It holds the top spot among its peers." As he talked about the Agusta, his eyes gleamed with excitement. Velocity, in every manifestation, held great significance for him. In fact, at some point, surpassing his previous time with the 308 GTB from Monaco to Fiorano was nearly as crucial as achieving a new lap record once he arrived...
While at Watkins Glen during one particular year, as we drove from the track towards the village, we came upon an expansive area of grass at the exit of a turn. This patch was completely marked with skid marks. It turned out these tracks were left behind by a Fiat X1/9 that had been lent to Gilles Villeneuve.
Yes," he said with an embarrassed grin, "I was attempting to demonstrate to Joanne that this was the car she ought to get.
It’s true that he poured his heart into every endeavor. Consider the powerboat racing event at Lake Como back in September when he outpaced six other Grand Prix drivers, or the subsequent drag races against Italy’s Air Force Starfighter just a few months ago.
Formula 1 was not the sole high-octane love of Villeneuve's life.
Photo by: Sutton Images
Gilles thrilled the audience by intentionally driving the Ferrari at 130 mph: "I always remember our duty towards the fans."
He would frequently mention, "Sure, I can get annoyed when people ask for autographs while I'm working, but I believe motorsports doesn’t treat fans well enough. My aim is always to make them happy."
It is undeniable that he accomplished this feat. Whenever Gilles was out on the circuit, he commanded attention as the central figure. You were aware that regardless of the conditions, he would always be captivating to watch through each turn. This explained why his idol had been Ronnie Peterson. His spirited dedication could be seen consistently, making it challenging to pick just one of his standout performances. There wasn’t a single instance where he appeared to hold back; he gave his all every time.
PLUS: Villeneuve’s greatest F1 drives
Forget the glory days, like Long Beach 1979 or Jarama last year. Forget even the electrifying combat with Arnoux at Dijon, if you can. What of the countless unforgettable occasions when he stopped for a Ferrari-inevitable tyre change, then charged all over again, right to the end of the race, fifth or something behind people with a fraction of his talent.
In a race at Zolder in 1979, he started from 23rd position but managed to finish in third place. His exceptional driving was so relentless that it disrupted Ferrari’s fuel estimates. Just yards before crossing the finishing line, his car stalled. This cost him four crucial points. Had he secured those points, he would have claimed the world championship title that year.
Think of first qualifying at Watkins Glen that same year. Torrential rain – and Gilles was 11 seconds quicker than anyone else. Eleven! “That was fun,” he beamed afterwards.
What about Monaco in 1980? It featured the typical tire changes. As rain started falling towards the end, all drivers were using slick tires despite the wet conditions; many even signaled for the race to be stopped as they waved at the officials. Gilles pushed his car to its absolute limits—and then some—clocking speeds over five seconds quicker than every other competitor. Such moments remain etched vividly in our memory forever.
For me, Gilles was a consummate racing driver, with no weaknesses. Those who talked constantly of his impetuosity ignored the machinery with which he had to work. I will never believe, for instance, that anyone else would have won in that Ferrari in Spain last June.
Oh, Gilles, you challenged us countless times. I witnessed almost every one of your Grand Prix races, and it was an honor I doubt will come again. That evening at Zonder, as we dined together, we pondered why, if it had to occur, it had to befall you, the most capricious genius in the sport.
And, naturally, the answer was contained within the question itself. Such an unpredictable talent as yours allowed for no room for error. It was exactly because of this that we held you in high regard. We will deeply cherish the memories of you.
PLUS: When Leclerc steered Villeneuve’s Ferrari
The departure of Villeneuve created a significant void in the realm of motorsports.
Photo by: Motorsport Images
