Who Races Must be Afraid

"All drivers know they risk a lot in a race and it is this awareness that pushes them to always be present and tense," says the racing champion. "We fight to win and we cannot be friends".

Translated by this website

Montecarlo, June.

Racing for the 1985 Formula One world title, Elio de Angelis is achieving excellent results: first in Imola, third in Brazil and Monte Carlo and fourth at Estoril. Born in Rome on March 26, 1958 under the sign of Aries, Elio has raced 88 Grand Prix, winning two. He made his Formula One debut in ’79 and in ’84 he came third in the world championship, now he races together with his teammate, Ayrton Senna, for Lotus-Renault.

Elio, are you more afraid of rival teams or your teammate Senna?

Ours is a “family” fight and the best will win. Of course, there are very competitive opposing teams such as McLaren and Ferrari who can win the title and then Williams who could pull some deadly weapon out of the “cylinder”.

Are you friends with Senna?

You fight to win, in a race. Friendship does not fall into this type of relationship.

But do you like him or dislike him?

He is quite likeable.

You have great determination on the track, do you have it in life too?

I believe I have the same characteristics: I like competitiveness and I try to face problems calmly to be able to solve them.

Drivers are assumed to be disdainful of danger: is this true?

No, if someone is intelligent, they are afraid. The cars we drive are quite dangerous instruments. However, when you are behind the wheel, you don’t think about it.

As children we often say that we would like to become plumbers, firefighters or tram drivers. How did you answer this question?

I have always said that I would like to be a pilot, at least since I began to think.

Are you an only child?

No, there are four of us: three boys and a girl. My passion for cars has also infected my brothers. In fact, Roberto and Andrea were both Italian go-kart champions, while my little sister, despite being passionate about racing, has no competitive ambitions.

You are single, but are you romantically involved?

No. I don’t have time for love right now.

Aren’t you even a little bit in love?

I was in love before racing. I had more time for myself.

Aren’t you afraid of becoming a little dry? Sometimes it’s quite sad to find yourself alone, without someone special by your side, isn’t it?

It becomes even sadder to be married for twenty years and know that you can’t say anything to your wife anymore. I think that, in life, a man should be able to fulfill himself regardless of company.

What does it feel like to have so many women pining after you?

I’m pleased because I feel that I’m alive in their hearts, that I represent something.

But interest as a character and not as a person.

When I find the girl who really wants to know me and I am available, then a historic meeting will probably happen.

How available are you in general to others?

Definitely very little, because this job absorbs me completely.

Where and with whom do you live?

In Rome and Monte Carlo, alone.

How do you organize your home life?

I manage very well. Sometimes I even cook.

Are you a good cook?

Like all Italians, I can make excellent pasta. In short, I survive very well, even if I must admit that moments of true solitude are quite rare: there is always some friend who comes to visit me. Then, when I have some free time, I go to Sardinia to visit my parents where, in addition to always finding everything ready, I can have fun fishing.

Do you have any other hobbies?

I love playing the piano. I’ve been doing it for sixteen years. As soon as I have a free minute, I strum as much as I can.

What do you like to play?

My music.

So, you compose: what kind of music?

From blues to modern sound.

Have you ever thought of turning music into a profession?

First there’s the racing.

You drivers earn staggering amounts of money. Are you careful in handling money?

I try to put away everything I can because, even if I don’t earn as much as tennis players, it’s better to take advantage of the lucky moments.

Have you ever had financial problems?

No, I have never lacked anything. It’s my little ant nature that makes me save money.

Speaking of luck, many athletes are superstitious. Are you?

I laugh about it. Even though at the beginning of my career I believed in it a little: I put one glove before the other and so on… Then, inevitably, one time I forgot about it and finished first. Since then, I have also walked under the stairs without any problems.

Do you pray before a race?

It depends. I have a very particular relationship with God.

Is there one person you will never forget?

Colin Chapman. He was the first to give me the chance to get into a competitive car and the first to believe in me. For that I will always be grateful.

If, by any chance, you could meet him again for a few minutes, is there anything you would like to tell him?

No, what we said to each other until his death is enough for me: he created such a relationship that I would be content to be close to him.

Yours seems like the picture of a confident and serene person, but there will be moments of melancholy: how do you overcome them?

I vent at the piano.