With 8 years having passed since his death due to respiratory failure, let us look back at the life and career of Jose Froilan Gonzalez.
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Jose Froilan Gonzalez was one of the most legendary Formula 1 drivers in the sport’s early days. Indeed, were it not for compatriot Juan Manuel Fangio, he might be the most known driver from Argentina. As it was, Fangio towered over everyone in that era, winning five world championships in the sport’s developing years. But Gonzalez was no slouch behind the wheel either. Indeed, he was the man behind the wheel when Scuderia Ferrari, the oldest team in the sport, notched their maiden F1 win at the British Grand Prix. The win kickstarted a relationship between sport and team that is still going strong.
With 8 years having passed since his death, let us look back at the life and career of Jose Froilan Gonzalez.
Gonzalez was born on October 5, 1922 at Arrecifes in the Buenos Aires Province of Argentina. His father was a car dealer, meaning young Jose was around cars from an early age itself.
He was always of a big build but he was surprisingly athletic for his size. Indeed, he earned the nickname ‘The Pampas Bull’ by English-speaking fans, such was his size and build.
His colleagues had a less flattering but very affectionate nickname for him – El Cabezon, or “the fat head”. Family members, meanwhile referred to him simply as Pepe.
His athletic ability meant he was adept at playing football and was a good cycler and swimmer as well.
However, his father wanted him to go into business. Indeed, his father set him up for a business in 1949 but Gonzalez would use the business to travel to Europe – and race.
His motorsport career began on motorcycles. However, he was discovered by Fangio when driving a Maserati that Fangio had found for him in 1949.
He also drove a Ferrari 166 that the Argentine Automobile Club part funded with the government. Incidentally, this was similar to the way Fangio himself made it to European racing.
Having gotten an interest in motorsports, Gonzalez made his debut in Formula 1 came a year later in 1950.
Gonzalez’s career started at the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix, the second Formula 1 race of the year. Amazingly, he qualified for the race in third place, behind the Alfa Romeo’s of Fangio and Giuseppe Farina.
Unfortunately for him, that was where the good news of his debut ended.
In the race, as the cars entered the Tabac corner for the first time, he held on to third place. However, when the cars reached the corner they found it flooded by a tidal wave.
Although Fangio made it through, the second-placed Alfa Romeo of Farina spun right in front of Gonzalez, who couldn’t avoid crashing straight into him.
Gonzalez was in turn rammed into by Luigi Fagioli. All in all, ten cars retired from this incident on the first lap. Gonzalez also received burns caused by fuel on his skin due to the crash.
He returned to the sport for the French Grand Prix later that year – in those days, not all drivers necessarily competed in all races and team changing was a very common occurence.
That race didn’t go much better either though, as he qualified in eighth but retired during the race due to his Maserati having engine issues.
It was in 1951 that he won his first race. Having finished second in the previous Grand Prix in France, hopes were high that Gonzalez could put in another decent showing in England.
Indeed, he did just that – driving in just his second race for Ferrari, he beat out compatriot Fangio in a battle of two top drivers and secured the Scuderia’s maiden F1 win.
In his five races with Ferrari that year, he managed podium finishe each and every time. He finished the year third in the world driver’s championship.
Gonzalez would only go on to win one more race in his career – the 1954 British Grand Prix. That being said, his numbers for the time speak volumes of his greatness.
He managed 3 pole positions and a total of 12 front row starts in the 30 races he competed in. Not only that, he also got two wins and managed 15 podium finishes – as well as ending 6 races having clocked the fastest lap.
His two wins seem miniscule in an era when Sir Lewis Hamilton is closing in on 100 Grand Prix wins. However, in an era when the sport was not yet the beast it is, Jose Froilan Gonzalez was a certifiable legend.
Indeed on July 10, 2011 – the date of that year’s British GP – he was honoured by Ferrari in the 60th year anniversary of his win. Then-Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso drove 4 laps in the car which Gonzalez used to win in England in 1951.
Amazingly, Alonso went on to win the 2011 British GP – the best tribute that ‘The Pampas Bull’ could have asked for on the day.
