Riccardo Patrese

Name: Riccardo Patrese

Nationality: Italy

Date of birth: April 17, 1954 - Padua

Patrese's outright record of 256 Grand Prix starts easily transcended Graham Hill's previous record tally of 176 races. Moreover, Patrese was a World Championship points scorer for longer than any other driver in F1 history and also has the longest winning record, eleven seasons separating his 1982 Monaco GP victory from his triumph in the Japanese race in 1992. After a distinguished record of achievement in karting and Formula 3, Patrese graduated to F1 with the Shadow team in 1977. He quickly gained a reputation for being over-aggressive and arrogant, on circuit and off, but he was unjustly accused by his peers of having triggered Ronnie Peterson's fatal accident at Monza in 1978. In 1982 Patrese switched to Bernie Ecclestone's Brabham team alongside Nelson Piquet, went to Alfa Romeo (1984-85), back to Brabham (1986-86) and then to Williams from 1998 to 92 where he partnered Nigel Mansell during the Englishman's World Championship winning season. Patrese had an F1 swan song season with Benetton alongside Michael Schumacher in 1992 before retiring from the F1 stage.

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