Following Jarno Trulli's abrupt exit from the sport, skysports.com reflects on former Italian drivers to grace F1.
Earlier this month, the Formula One grid lost a stalwart in Jarno Trulli following Caterham's decision to replace the veteran driver with Vitaly Petrov. Moreover, Trulli's displacement at the team formerly known as Lotus came with a disappointing consequence for a sport with a profound connection to Italy - 2012 will be the first season since 1970 in which no team will open the season with an Italian representative on the grid.
Although the 37-year-old Trulli, winner of the 2004 Monaco Grand Prix, has yet to announce his retirement, it is thought unlikely that he will return to the sport as anything more than a test driver, essentially drawing to a close 15 consecutive years at the pinnacle level of motorsport.
Upon being dropped in favour of Petrov, Trulli told Autosport: "NASCAR and IndyCar could be a possibility, but obviously I don't have sponsors. I've never had that in my career so I've had to deal with my talent and nothing else."
Indeed, a lack of sponsors proved to be the Italian's downfall, as Petrov's signature brought with it considerable financial backing from his homeland of Russia, where the 27-year-old is a major star as the only native ever to race in Formula One.
In contrast, Trulli's absence may go somewhat unnoticed in his homeland, where Ferrari-obsessed fans of the sport generally care significantly more for their team's performance than their individual compatriots - perhaps down to the fact that only two Italians have ever won the FIA Formula One World Championship.
The strong Italian connection in the paddock remains, at least, with Scuderia Toro Rosso and the ever-present Ferrari still flying the flag. And so, to commemorate the close of a golden era for Italian drivers, Sky Sports looks back on some of the most colourful characters to have left their mark on the grid over the last 42 years.
Riccardo Patrese
In the 1992 Formula One season, Riccardo Patrese was one of a staggering 11 Italians to compete on the race calendar at some stage or another. Driving the dominant Williams-Renault, he finished the season as runner-up to Britain's Nigel Mansell, although the Englishman was well out of sight courtesy of a mammoth 52-point winning margin.
It was, perhaps, the peak of Patrese's career, which got off to a turbulent start in just his second season as the Italian was caught up in a blame-game surrounding the death of former Lotus driver Ronnie Peterson after the 1978 Italian Grand Prix. Peterson died in hospital a day after colliding with James Hunt on race day, an impact "Hunt The Shunt" blamed squarely on a young Patrese.
Patrese even stood trial for the Swede's death but was deemed not guilty and overcame his ordeal to forge a long career in F1, also turning out for legendary teams Brabham, Alfa Romeo and Benetton. In his final season in 1993, he became the first F1 driver to make 250 Grand Prix starts - only Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello better his eventual tally of 256, one more than Jarno Trulli.
Giancarlo Fisichella
In an F1 career spanning 14 seasons, Rome-born Fisichella romantically achieved a childhood dream in his final year in 2009 when he was asked to deputise for the injured Felipe Massa in the Ferrari, fittingly making his debut in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
Despite the fairytale finish, the former Benetton and Jordan driver was left to reflect on what might have been from a career which took in just three race wins - a figure widely considered to portray a deceitful representation of his undoubted talent.
Considered somewhat of an underachiever, Fisichella's most realistic chance for a shot at the title came at Renault in 2005 and 2006, but he was twice comprehensively outshone by teammate and eventual double world champion Fernando Alonso, among others. Regardless of his shortcomings, 'Fisi' will be fondly remembered for his off-grid charm, evident after each of his 19 podium finishes.
Elio de Angelis
Elio De Angelis was once a team-mate of the late, great Ayrton Senna during a five-year stint at Lotus and also paired up with the aforementioned Riccardo Patrese in his final season after replacing double world champion Nelson Piquet at Brabham.
Thus, there is no doubt de Angelis could cut it with the best but his career was tragically cut short at the age of 28. Renowned for his smooth style on the track and his elegant charisma off it, Formula One lost a popular figure when he crashed ultimately to his death during practice in France in May 1986.
Having also driven for Shadow, de Angelis was testing in his Brabham when his rear wing detached, causing the Italian to loose control. Impact saw his car catch fire and, although he only suffered minor burns to his back, he died from smoke inhalation in hospital the following day.
He was thrust into the sport at the tentative age of 21 and in his short career achieved two race wins, nine podium finishes, three pole positions and 122 career points.
Lella Lombardi
Female participation is not exactly renowned in Formula One, rendering Lella Lombardi's efforts between 1974 and 1976 nothing short of legendary as she became the first, and since only, woman to produce a points finish in the world championship.
Behind the wheel of a March-Ford, Lombardi did not have to complete a full Grand Prix to achieve this milestone, the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix having been abandoned before the half-way point following a tragic crash resulting in the death of five spectators.
Nonetheless, her tally of 0.5 points - awarded due to the shortened distance of the race - stands as unique in more ways than one as no other driver in F1 has finished with the same career total. Inspired by compatriot Maria Teresa de Filippis, who started three races between 1958 and 1959, Lombardi paved the way for three further females to try their hand in the sport, but none of whom were able to qualify let alone match the late Italian's feat.
Alex Zanardi
As this column has a particular focus on 'colourful' Italian characters to have competed in F1, it would be wrong to omit Alex Zanardi, regardless of his lacklustre record in the sport. Legendary Sports Illustrated journalist William Nack once described Zanardi as "a warm, bright, wryly humorous soul who played the press like a violin and indulged the crowds by driving like a madman."
Although his career peaked in the American CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams) series, Zanardi had two stints in F1, originally taking in substitute drives with Jordan and Minardi before earning a permanent deal at Lotus, but after making little impact he made the successful move to the US. His exploits stateside did not escape the eye of Sir Frank Williams, who lured Zanardi back to F1 in 1999, but his Williams team was by then a sinking ship and the Italian failed to notch a single point.
Zanardi survived by the skin of his severed legs following a horror CART crash in Germany in 2001. Reports suggest he lost over two thirds of his blood and came within minutes of death. But, ever an optimist, this remarkable competitor had returned to the track within two years of the accident, driving a modified touring car that allowed the use of prosthetics in the European Touring Car Championship.
He has since applied his natural thirst for speed to Handcycling and holds realistic hopes of representing Italy at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London after winning the New York City Handcycling Marathon at the fourth attempt last November.
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