Jochen Rindt became the only driver in the history of Formula One to be awarded the world championship posthumously in 1970 as he crashed in the Italian Grand Prix and died on the way to the hospital.
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When one looks at the history of F1 champions in the sport, there is one name that is very intriguing. His name is Jochen Rindt from Austria. His life was a constant struggle for identity. He was of a mixed German-Austrian lineage. The horrors of World War 2 had scarred him tremendously. His race beginnings were chaotic. In one particular local event, he had missed the application deadline. After an intervention from someone, he was black-flagged for dangerous driving. But, he did not give up. After years of trying, failing, and succeeding, Rindt was dominant in 1970. But, in tragic circumstances, he died in a high-speed crash in Monza. But, such was his dominance that he was declared the world champion.
To date, Rindt remains the only individual in the history of F1 to be posthumously awarded the world title. His achievements were such that his opponent could not catch him. It was a sad end to a man who symbolized determination in a sport. The fact that he did it constantly when he voiced opinions on his car and racing conditions not being safe is a tribute to his bravery.
Born in 1942 in Mainz, Germany, Rindt’s childhood was scarred by the horrors of World War 2. His parents were killed during the firebombing of Hamburg in 1943. At that time, Rindt was 15 months old. He was raised by his grandparents in Austria in the town of Graz. Throughout his entire life, Rindt struggled with the double identity of Austrian and German heritage. But, when it came to racing, Rindt decided to race under the Austrian flag and license.
A skiing accident resulted in him breaking his femoral neck. This led to several surgeries that left one leg four centimeters shorter than the other. As a result of this, Rindt limped slightly for the rest of his life. When he was going to get his license, he faced further obstacles from the police. Rindt, in his youth, had accumulated some misdemeanors which resulted in plenty of delays. But, when he got it, he was passionate about driving. When he went with his friends to the Nurburgring, his interest in the sport of F1 grew immensely.
After the early black flagging at a racing event in 1961, Rindt acquired the reputation of being a dangerous driver. During one particular incident in Formula Junior in Budapest, he almost crashed into spectators on the streets. In another race in Cesecatino in Italy, Rindt took advantage of an accident in the early stages. While most drivers slowed for the incoming ambulance, he raced ahead between the straw barriers and the parked medical vehicle to take the lead.
Despite his reputation, he had great success in Formula 2. Rindt won 29 races and he became renowned for late braking. He had already acquired the nickname ‘King of Formula 2’. However, that did not translate into success for Rindt in F1. In his first couple of seasons, from 1964 to 1968, he retired frequently. However, the year 1966 proved to be the making of Rindt. The Austrian secured his first-ever podium in the rain-affected Belgian Grand Prix.
He spun regularly and could have won the race but his car suffered from a problem. Overall, he secured three podium finishes and ended the championship in the third position. In 1968, he had gotten an offer to drive for the championship team Brabham. However, the team was plagued with technical issues and he failed to finish most of the races. Rindt secured third place in South Africa. However, the 1968 season would be marred by the death of his close friend Jim Clark, who died in a Formula 2 race in Hockenheim.
The death of Clark greatly affected Rindt. During the 1969 season, he almost suffered a fatal crash in Spain. The suspension mounted on his car broke off, which launched him towards the barricades. Rindt suffered a broken nose but two marshals suffered greater injuries. The race in Italy witnessed a memorable moment. During the last lap, Rindt, Jackie Stewart, Bruce McLaren, and Jean-Pierre Beltoise were running close together as they approached the finish line. Stewart took the win, only eight-hundredths of a second ahead of Rindt. Fourth-placed McLaren was also within two-tenths of a second. It was the closest 1–2–3–4 finish in the history of the sport.
But, Rindt finally broke the winless drought as he won the first US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. This resulted in Rindt winning USD 50,000 which was the highest in F1 history at that time. But, in the year 1970, Rindt faced tragedy plus success. The Austrian lost his close friend Piers Courage just before the Dutch Grand Prix.
Despite being shaken, Rindt had glory by winning four consecutive races. He won in Monaco, Britain, Dutch, and the French Grand Prix. In each of the wins, there was an incident. In the French Grand Prix, he was hit by a stone from a car and suffered a cut on his cheek. Rindt almost threw away the lead in Britain but managed to win. In Monaco, his victory was cast into doubt shortly after the race. Chief Scrutineer Cecil Mitchell found the rear aerofoil, not at the regulated height. Rindt was provisionally disqualified, only to be reinstated as the winner after three hours of deliberation.
During the practice session in Monza, tragedy would strike the world of F1. Rindt crashed heavily at the approach to the Parabolica corner. Upon impact, a joint in the crash barrier parted. The suspension of the vehicle went under the barrier and the car hit a stanchion head-on. The front end was destroyed. Rindt was in the habit of using only four points on the five-point harness then available and did not wear the crotch straps, as he wanted to be able to exit the car quickly in the event of fire.
As a result, upon impact, he slid under the belts. Those belts fatally slit open Rindt’s throat. Later investigations found that the accident was initiated by a failure of the car’s right front inboard brake shaft. But, Rindt’s death was caused by poorly installed crash barriers. Rindt was pronounced dead on the way to the hospital in Milan. Lotus withdrew all cars from the race.
But, such was the level of dominance, Rindt would be immortalized even after death. At the time he died Rindt had won five of that year’s ten Grands Prix. This meant that he had a substantial lead in the Drivers’ Championship. After winning the next race in Canada, Jacky Ickx moved within 17 points of Rindt in the Championship, giving him a chance to win the title if he won the two remaining races.
At the United States Grand Prix, a race won by Rindt’s replacement at Lotus, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ickx finished fourth. This made Rindt motor racing’s only posthumous world champion. The championship trophy was handed to his widow Nina by Jackie Stewart.
