Connecting two of Ferrari's favourite F1 sons: Villeneuve and Leclerc
Gilles Villeneuve's exploits behind the wheel of a Ferrari made him a legend to the tifosi, even 40 years after his death. The team's current Formula 1 star Charles Leclerc enjoys a similar status, and recently got behind the wheel of a very special car from the French-Canadian’s career.
"With his generosity, his courage, with the ability he had in driving cars, he taught us what needed to be done so that a driver could defend himself in an unpredictable moment. He was a master of combat and gave so much to Ferrari. I loved him.” If you want to comprehend the impact a driver who scored just six wins for Ferrari had on the Italian marque’s great founder and leader Enzo, his quote on the plaque of the Gilles Villeneuve memorial at Imola sums it up beautifully.
Villeneuve is widely recognised as one of the greatest grand prix drivers never to become world champion, his legacy stretching far beyond a career tragically cut short by his death in a qualifying accident at Zolder in 1982. Forty years later, he is still revered for his bravery, his knack for the spectacular, and for the qualities that made him so loved by Enzo Ferrari.
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