For over a decade, Andrea de Cesaris laboured to shed his image as an unpredictable and tempestuous driver, a perception largely fueled by his strong sponsorship backing. However, by the early 1990s, he had evolved into a seasoned and reliable competitor.
| Nationality | Italian |
|---|---|
| Born | Andrea de Cesaris 31 May 1959 Rome, Italy |
| Died | 5 October 2014 (aged 55) Rome, Italy |
At just 18, de Cesaris, a former world karting champion, raced in the 1978 British BP F3 championship, managing a Ralt car under Tim Schenken of Tiga. He continued the next year with Team Tiga’s March, securing six wins in the Vandervell series. However, early signs of the blunders that would mark his Formula 1 career prevented him from clinching the championship, finishing second to Chico Serra.
In 1980, de Cesaris joined Ron Dennis’s Project Four. He impressed in the New Zealand Pacific series with wins at both Pukekohe races before moving up to Formula 2 with a March 802. Despite starting alongside Serra, de Cesaris quickly outperformed him, culminating in a win at Misano that earned him a spot on the McLaren team for the 1981 season.
That season, he started disastrously with a crash at Long Beach and a troubling series of accidents. Yet, after his Formula 1 debut with Alfa Romeo at the end of 1980, that team welcomed him back. Over two seasons, de Cesaris delivered some remarkable performances, including leading the first half of the Spa race in 1983 before encountering issues. After Alfa Romeo transitioned to Pavanello’s Euroracing in 1984, de Cesaris moved to the Ligier team, where his previous year’s discipline briefly lapsed. A dramatic crash in Austria in 1985 nearly ended his career, but he survived and continued racing.
Never one to give up, de Cesaris led Minardi in 1986 but was often outshone by his teammate Nannini. He then moved to Brabham in 1987, displaying flashes of brilliance despite inconsistent performances. His tenure at Rial in 1988 included a commendable fourth-place finish in Detroit. His subsequent years at Dallara were marked by erratic displays, with his aggressive driving style often prevailing.
De Cesaris’ career seemed to be winding down until Jordan picked him for their 1991 lineup. He excelled, nearly finishing second at Spa, and though not kept by Jordan, moved to Tyrrell in 1992 where he helped secure valuable points. However, by 1993, with Tyrrell struggling, the impressive de Cesaris of previous years was less visible.
After 14 seasons, he started 1994 without a team but returned briefly when Jordan’s Eddie Irvine was suspended. A commendable fourth place in Monaco briefly revived his prospects, yet after finishing sixth in France, his Formula 1 journey concluded without further comebacks.
Beyond F1, in 2005 and 2006, de Cesaris participated in the Grand Prix Masters series, a racing competition for retired Formula One drivers. Tragically, he passed away on October 5, 2014, after a motorcycle accident on the Grande Raccordo Anulare motorway in Rome.
Andrea de Cesaris Formula One World Championship career
| F1 Career | 1980–1994 |
|---|---|
| Teams | Alfa Romeo, McLaren, Ligier, Minardi, Brabham, Rial, Dallara, Jordan, Tyrrell, Sauber |
| Entries | 214 (208 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 5 |
| Career points | 59 |
| Pole positions | 1 |
| Fastest laps | 1 |
| First entry | 1980 Canadian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1994 European Grand Prix |
Sources: Wikipedia.com and historicracing.com
