Farewell to Andrea de Adamich, former F1 driver

Just moments ago, the motorsport world lost one of its most iconic Italian figures. Andrea de Adamich, former Formula 1 driver and well-known TV commentator, has passed away at the age of 84. Born in Trieste on October 3, 1941, de Adamich began with Alfa Romeo his racing career in 1962, quickly standing out for his talent and determination.

After winning the Formula 3 World Championship in 1965, he was signed by Alfa Romeo to compete in the European Touring Car Championship with the Giulia GTA. Capturing two consecutive titles in 1966 and 1967.

1967 F1 debut with Ferrari

An interesting fact: de Adamich made his Formula 1 debut driving for Ferrari at the 1967 Spanish Grand Prix, finishing fourth. However, that race was not part of the official World Championship calendar. The following year, still with Ferrari, he achieved a remarkable second place at the Vallelunga Grand Prix, held just outside Rome.

His Formula 1 career continued for five seasons starting in 1968, during which he raced for prestigious teams such as Ferrari, McLaren, March, Surtees, and Brabham. Alongside F1, he also competed in the World Sportscar Championship, where he scored two victories with Alfa Romeo.

His role in driving safety education with Alfa Romeo

Andrea De Adamich’s racing career came to an end in 1974, twelve years after his debut. Soon after, he began a new chapter in television, working as a commentator and analyst for Silvio Berlusconi’s Mediaset Group, a role he carried out until 2009, alongside fellow journalist Guido Schittone.

He also played a major role in promoting driving safety education, founding the International Safe Driving Centre in 1991. The initiative, created in collaboration with Alfa Romeo, used vehicles from the Italian marque for its training programs.

For his outstanding contribution to motorsport and road safety, the Italian government awarded him the title of Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.