Riccardo Patrese - The Italian Hero

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By Mair Pena Neto (1992)

(Article translated to English by this site Webmaster)

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Near of his first World Championship and with the British Grand Prix, his favourite race, coming Nigel Mansell started to press Williams for keep the partnership with Riccardo Patrese for the next season. It was natural after the race that Patrese gave to him in France and also because the advantages that he usufructs besides the Italian driver inside the team.

Nigel Mansell's fear is loose the number one condition if a driver like Ayrton Senna or Alain Prost comes to the team. When Mansell raced with Prost by Ferrari in 1990 he was obfuscated by his team mate and even announced his retirement, but the Frank Williams' offer changed his mind.

In England people are saying that Mansell already received an offer from Frank Williams for renew his contract for more two years, but he is afraid about his future team mate: "We're talking yet but till I know who will be my team mate I prefer don't sign a contract", Mansell said.

For keep Mansell in Formula 1 and driving for his team last year, Frank Williams gave to the British driver all the privileges and they were guaranteed by contract. Mansell has always the right to use the t-car, priority about the technical material and even win races by team orders like happened in the last sunday in Magny-Cours: "I think we shouldn't change a winner team", Mansell said, defending Patrese's stay.

The French Grand Prix continues creating controversies. Williams wouldn't refuse the Patrese's win since he didn't bring any problem to the team. It was obvious. Patrese was not the problem. A Patrese's win wouldn't bring problems to the fight for the drivers and constructors championships. The team's fear was that Mansell could cause an accident between the two cars. For a driver that lost the last two races a third defeat could be fatal for the championship.

Patrese understood the message very well but showed his irritation when made the sign for Mansell pass him: "I thought I had the right to win, now I don't know", Patrese said during an interview for the Italian newspaper "La Repubblica". "I'm a professional racing driver and I will continue to work hard for the team, but the winning hopes seems to be reduced a lot".

The last British Formula 1 Champion, James Hunt, censured the Williams attitude saying that the team is removing all the Formula 1 interest: "When Mc Laren had a similar technical advantage allowed Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost free for fight for the title what brought great moments for us. The Williams attitude shows that they don't have confidence enough in their drivers' hability and prives Patrese to fight for the title", Hunt said.