F1 star who raced for Ferrari and McLaren dies

A Formula One driver turned commentator died aged 84, it was announced on Wednesday. Italian F1 star Andrea de Adamich represented Ferrari and McLaren among other brands during his career.

de Adamich raced in F1 between 1968 and 1973, making a total of 30 appearances. After racing for Ferrari in the 1968 South Africa GP, he drove McLaren in 1970. He earned a total of six points, between the 1972 and 1973 seasons, racing for the Surtees team in the former and Brabham in the latter season.

His death, which has plunged the world of Italian motorsport into mourning, comes at the start of the Brazilian Grand Prix week.

Participating in 34 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, de Adamich made his racing debut in 1962 behind the wheel of a Triumph TR3.

Born in Trieste in north-eastern Italy, De Adamich also raced for March. His career ended abruptly due to injuries sustained in a multiple-car pile-up at the British GP. The incident happened after driver Jody Scheckter lost control of his vehicle, and car after car struck one another at high speed.

The nine-car pile-up was one of the largest accidents in F1 history. Astonishingly, the only driver to sustain injuries in the resulting chaos was de Adamich who suffered a broken ankle.

de Adamich retired the following year and became a respected motor sport journalist and TV pundit in his native Italy. From 1978 through 2012 he hosted the TV sport programme Grand Prix on the Italia 1 national channel.

Up until his death, he was the vice-president of N.Technology which prepares race cars for Alfa Romeo. In recognition of his contribution to sport and media, Andrea de Adamich was appointed 'Commendatore' of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2022, one of the highest civilian honors in Italy.

He is survived by his wife, who he married in a civil ceremony in January 2010 and their three children.