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Button and Villoresi: smoothness and speed

Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:39 am
by POBRatings
Working on a piece covering the career of Italian driver Luigi Villoresi (grand prix career 1938-1956) I was impressed at how similar he was to Jenson Button in some respects. Both drove with a smooth, sensitive style, conserving tyres and machinery with minimal and efficient use of the steering and controls.

This apparently relaxed driving style combined with their easy-going, friendly demeanor outside cockpit, led to under-estimating their sheer competitiveness. As we see with Jenson these past few years; he is giving his far younger team-mate Lewis Hamilton a hard time: through wise experience, judgement, talent and pace. And determined competitveness.

Exactly as it was with Villoresi, who was mentor to the nine year younger Alberto Ascari; from 1947 to 1950 the two friends and team-mates were evenly matched for speed. VIlloresi brought Alberto into the Maserati team in 1947; Ascari took Villoresi with him to ferrari in 1949, then to Lancia in 1954. They were up against Farina, Wimille, Sommer, Fangio and Moss.

Jenson and Luigi each won just one race in their first six seasons, despite their obvious talent. They did not have the top cars.

For those interested in the career of the fine Italian driver who, like Chris Amon, gets little recognition, I have posted it on my blog.