40 years since the death of Elio De Angelis: the cursed Paul Ricard test

The 1986 Monaco Grand Prix for Brabham BMW was not particularly happy: Patrese broke the fuel pump, De Angelis was betrayed by the engine. Thus, Gordon Murray had decided to carry out, from May 13th, a test session at Paul Ricard, the French track in Le Castellet. Gordon Murray had designed a totally new car, very low, which forced the driver into an almost lying position and for this reason it was nicknamed sole. For this purpose, BMW technicians had designed a new engine by tilting it 72 degrees on its side, to be able to install it on the car. With this, Murray attempted to “clean” the air flows during movement and achieve greater downforce. For the first time on a Brabham the chassis was all carbon fibre. That day in Monte Carlo, after the Grand Prix, Elio asked Patrese: “Riccardo, I know that Gordon has called you for the tests at Paul Ricard, if you don’t mind, let me go as I’m still very fresh from Brabham”. Patrese agreed without problems. Testing began at Le Castellet, but on May 14th Elio was the victim of a very serious accident: while he was traveling along the long Paul Ricard straight, the Brabham lost its rear wing, the single-seater went crazy, spiraling into the air, it overturned six or seven times, ending the race against the barriers, 250 meters ahead, catching fire. Several drivers, including Alan Jones and Nigel Mansell, stopped to provide assistance and Alain Prost tried to extract De Angelis from the cockpit despite the flames, without success. Despite the hope of a miracle, the next day Elio de Angelis ceased to live, like a matador killed by a steel bull. And Riccardo Patrese, for weeks and weeks, remained anguished at the thought that, without that change, he could have suffered that accident. Elio de Angelis was 28 years old, he had raced with Shadow, Lotus and Brabham, he had won two Grands Prix (Austria and Imola), he had won three pole positions. He was certainly a great driver but, even more, a great character: a serious, calm boy, a «professional of great qualities – as Luca di Montezemolo had the opportunity to write at the time, in the Corriere della Sera – who paid with his life for the lack of professionalism that often accompanies perhaps the most dangerous sport in the world». Son of Giulio de Angelis, a powerboat champion who rose to prominence not only for his world championship victories but also because he was the victim of a kidnapping, Elio immediately came to prominence with Formula 3. He toured Europe on his father’s jet, hosting his two great friends on board, Nelson Piquet and Piercarlo Ghinzani. Elio won the Lottery GP in Monza: he, a billionaire, had dispensed the billions from the national competition. A nice title for the sports pages of the Corriere. He saw me one day, in Germany, and said to me: «Do you know that I can’t forgive you for that title? I don’t like being called a billionaire for my father’s money and not a pilot. The family heritage can also help you, but to move forward you need qualities. And everything that my father gave me, I have already given back to him.” He had the modesty to be like all the other drivers: when he arrived in Formula 1, in 1977, he no longer used his personal jet and rarely traveled first class. Elio was also an excellent pianist. Those who attended Formula 1 in the early 80s cannot forget how he interpreted Gershwin’s music during a drivers’ strike in Johannesburg, South Africa, due to a super license that no one wanted to accept. The drivers had gathered in a large hotel and refused to participate in the qualifiers. Elio had found a piano in the large hall and began to play. The notes carried in the air the sweetness of the nature of that young Roman who was completely exalted only at the wheel of an F1 and in the exploits of Roma: when the team, then coached by Liedholm, won the scudetto, Elio hoisted the big bunting on his boat in Monte Carlo. He had a beautiful German girlfriend, Ute Kittelberger, and an intimate and brotherly friend, Louis Ruzzi, a young Argentine engineer who after Elio’s death disappeared from a world that perhaps only reminded him of pain. In the years in which he raced, he only had one aversion, that of Ayrton Senna, who was his teammate at Lotus and the darling of the technicians and mechanics. I noticed this aversion in Montreal, in the qualifying sessions for the 1985 Canadian GP in which he took pole position. Elio got out of the Lotus and turned to Mansell saying: “Here’s Nigel, us old people’s answer to the presumptuous boy.” The boy was Ayrton Senna, his teammate at Lotus. Elio de Angelis is no longer here, and it seems like yesterday. Discreet and kind, he has never bothered us in these decades, arousing secret reminiscences inside us. He returned these days, suddenly: to make us understand that he is dead but has not disappeared. From the hearts of true Formula 1 fans. Click here to add Formula Passion as your favorite source on Google Discover: you will find our content more easily!

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-05-15 19:40:46