Died

Jose Froilan Gonzalez

Argentine

  • Arrecifes, Argentina Place of Birth
  • 5 October 1922 Date of Birth
  • 1950 Monaco Grand Prix F1 Debut
  • Ferrari Current/Last Team

Jose Gonzalez made his Formula 1 debut at the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix. Over nine seasons (1950-1957 and 1960), he participated in 26 Grands Prix, securing two wins, seven second places, four third places, three pole positions, and six fastest laps. He also won the 1951 Coppa Acerbo and the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside Maurice Trintignant.

NationalityArgentine
BornJosé Froilán González
5 October 1922
Arrecifes, Argentina
Died15 June 2013 (aged 90)
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Jose Froilan Gonzalez, affectionately known as “Pepe” by his friends, was the son of a Chevrolet dealer in a provincial town about three hours from Buenos Aires. Despite his chubby appearance, Gonzalez was a surprisingly keen athlete from an early age, excelling as a swimmer, shooter, cyclist, soccer player, and production car road racer, much like his contemporary, Fangio.

Nicknamed ‘the Bull of the Pampas’ by the press, this nickname captured his imposing physique and fierce presence on the track. Enzo Ferrari once remarked with amazement at Gonzalez’s ability to drive racing cars so effectively despite the intense physical exertion it caused him. His compatriots affectionately called him ‘El Cabezon’ (‘Fat Head’).

Gonzalez’s father set him up in the trucking business, and by 1949, he joined Fangio on a European tour with a Maserati. Although his initial results were modest, he finished second in the 1949 Albi Grand Prix.

His breakthrough came in 1951 when he defeated a trio of pre-war Mercedes W163 cars in Argentina, driving a Ferrari 166. This success led to his Grand Prix debut as a works driver for Ferrari. Known for his aggressive driving style, Gonzalez’s crowning achievement came in 1951 when he defeated the Alfa Romeos at the 1951 British Grand Prix, securing the first World Championship Grand Prix win for Scuderia Ferrari.

In 1952, Gonzalez signed with Maserati, racing in only one Grand Prix but winning the Goodwood Trophy in a BRM V16 and the Richmond Trophy in Vandervell‘s Thinwall Ferrari. In 1953, as Fangio’s teammate at Maserati, he struggled to step out of Fangio’s shadow until a crash sidelined him for three months.

Rejoining Ferrari in 1954, Gonzalez had his best season, winning the 1954 British Grand Prix in a Ferrari 625 and securing victories in the non-title International Trophy, Bari, and Bordeaux GPs. He also won four sports car races, including Le Mans with Trintignant. However, a crash in the Tourist Trophy injured his arm, leading him to focus on racing mainly in Argentina.

Gonzalez’s last notable appearance was at Silverstone in 1956, driving a Vanwall before a driveshaft failure. Although he continued to race in Argentina, including guest appearances in his home Grands Prix, he gradually shifted his attention to his motor business. His passion for racing remained evident as he battled for the lead in the 1955 Argentine Grand Prix before finishing second, and after his final race in 1957, he focused on his automotive ventures. His last appearance was the 1960 Argentine Grand Prix.

He died on 15 June 2013 at the age of 90 in Buenos Aires of respiratory failure.

Jose Froilan Gonzalez Formula One World Championship career

F1 Career1950–1957, 1960
TeamsMaserati, Talbot-Lago, Ferrari, Vanwall
Entries26
Championships0
Wins2
Podiums15
Career points72 1⁄7 (77 9⁄14)1
Pole positions3
Fastest laps6
First entry1950 Monaco Grand Prix
First win1951 British Grand Prix
Last win1954 British Grand Prix
Last entry1960 Argentine Grand Prix
1Up until 1990, not all points scored by a driver contributed to their final World Championship tally). Numbers without brackets are championship points; numbers in brackets are total points scored.

Jose Froilan Gonzalez Teammates

33 TeammatesInvolvementFirst YearLast Year
Alfredo Pian11950
Nello Pagani11950
Franco Comotti11950
Piero Taruffi619511954
Alberto Ascari619511954
Luigi Villoresi51951
Gianni Marzotto11951
Juan Manuel Fangio719521953
Franco Rol11952
Felice Bonetto619521953
Oscar Galvez11953
Onofre Marimon41953
Johnny Claes11953
Giuseppe Farina419541955
Mike Hawthorn819541957
Umberto Maglioli419541955
Maurice Trintignant819541956
Robert Manzon11954
Stirling Moss11956
Gerino Gerini11956
Chico Landi11956
Carlos Menditeguy11956
Jean Behra11956
Harry Schell11956
Alfonso de Portago11957
Eugenio Castellotti11957
Wolfgang von Trips219571960
Peter Collins11957
Cesare Perdisa11957
Luigi Musso11957
Cliff Allison11960
Olivier Gendebien11960
Phil Hill11960

Formula One Record

YearEntrantTeamWDC PointsWDC Pos.Report
1950Scuderia Achille VarziMaserati0NCReport
1951José Froilán GonzálezTalbot-Lago-Talbot24 (27)3rdReport
Enrico PlatéMaserati
Scuderia FerrariFerrari
1952Officine Alfieri MaseratiMaserati6.59thReport
1953Officine Alfieri MaseratiMaserati13.5 (14.5)6thReport
1954Scuderia FerrariFerrari25.143 (26.643)2ndReport
1955Scuderia FerrariFerrari217thReport
1956Officine Alfieri MaseratiMaserati0NCReport
Vandervell Products Ltd.Vanwall
1957Scuderia FerrariLanciaFerrari121stReport
1958José Froilán GonzálezMaserati0NCReport
1959: Did not compete
1960Scuderia FerrariFerrari0NCReport

Race Wins

Win NumberGrand Prix
11951 British Grand Prix
21954 British Grand Prix

Complete Formula One Results

Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap

YearEntrantChassisEngine12345678910WDCPts1
1950Scuderia Achille VarziMaserati 4CLT/48Maserati L4CGBRMON
Ret
500SUIBELFRA
Ret
ITANC0
1951José Froilán GonzálezTalbot-Lago T26C-GSTalbot L6SUI
Ret
5003rd24
(27)
Enrico PlatéMaserati 4CLT/48Maserati L4BEL
DNA
Scuderia FerrariFerrari 375Ferrari V12FRA
2*
GBR
1
GER
3
ITA
2
ESP
2
1952Officine Alfieri MaseratiMaserati A6GCMMaserati L6SUI500BELFRAGBRGERNEDITA
2**
9th6 1⁄2
1953Officine Alfieri MaseratiMaserati A6GCMMaserati L6ARG
3
500NED
3*
BEL
Ret
FRA
3
GBR
4**
GERSUIITA6th13 1⁄2
(14 1⁄2)
1954Scuderia FerrariFerrari 625Ferrari L4ARG
3
500BEL
4*
GBR
1
GER
2*
SUI
2
ITA
3*
ESP2nd25 1⁄7
(26 9⁄14)
Ferrari 553Ferrari L4FRA
Ret
1955Scuderia FerrariFerrari 625Ferrari L4ARG
2*
MON500BELNEDGBRITA17th2
1956Officine Alfieri MaseratiMaserati 250FMaserati L6ARG
Ret
MON500BELFRANC0
Vandervell Products Ltd.Vanwall VW 2Vanwall L4GBR
Ret
GERITA
1957Scuderia FerrariLanciaFerrari D50Ferrari V8ARG
5*
MON500FRAGBRGERPESITA21st1
1960Scuderia FerrariFerrari Dino 246Ferrari V6ARG
10
MON500NEDBELFRAGBRPORITAUSANC0
1Up until 1990, not all points scored by a driver contributed to their final World Championship tally). Numbers without brackets are championship points; numbers in brackets are total points scored.
* Shared drive.
** Joint fastest lap.
† González started the race in a Ferrari 553 Squalo, but took over one of his teammates’ 625 during the race.

Sources: Wikipedia.com, fandom.com, historicracing.com and statsf1.com

Teammates

Driver Nationality Current/Last Team F1 Debut Status
Italian Ferrari 1950 Monaco Grand Prix Died, F1 Legend
Argentine Maserati 1950 British Grand Prix Died, F1 Legend
Italian Ferrari 1950 British Grand Prix Died, F1 Legend
British Ferrari 1952 Belgian Grand Prix Died, F1 Legend
British Team Lotus 1951 Swiss Grand Prix Died, F1 Legend
German Ferrari 1956 British Grand Prix Died
British Ferrari 1952 Swiss Grand Prix Died
American Eagle 1971 Austrian Grand Prix Died, F1 Legend

Teams

Team Nationality Debut Season Status
Maserati Italian 1950 Historic
Talbot-Lago French 1950 Historic
Ferrari Italian 1950 Current
Vanwall British 1954 Historic