Former Formula 1 driver Riccardo Patrese has shared fond memories of his rookie season alongside Alan Jones at the Shadow team in 1977, offering a rare glimpse into the contrasting personality of the 1980 world champion. Speaking to Speedcafe, the Italian racer reflected on their blossoming friendship and the unique dynamic they shared during their early days in the top tier of motorsport.
"He was a very tough, and at the same time, very lovable person," Patrese recalled. "Tough in racing, a lovable person outside of the circuit, and you could have a really good time with him all the time. Definitely, when we were teammates in '77, my first teammate, I had good memories of how we spent time together."
Throughout their nine grands prix together at Shadow, the duo achieved a notable double points finish at the season-ending Japanese Grand Prix, where Jones finished fourth and Patrese claimed sixth to score his maiden F1 point. However, Patrese was notably absent from Jones' breakthrough maiden victory at the Austrian Grand Prix—a historic triumph that remains Shadow's sole F1 race win and famously featured a trumpet playing 'Happy Birthday' on the podium due to the unavailability of the Australian national anthem.
Patrese explained that his absence was due to prior contractual commitments in Formula 2 whenever schedules conflicted. "I had to drive in Formula 2 because I was coming from Formula 1 that year," he explained. "And my boss, Pino Trivellato, said, 'Okay, you drive Formula 1, but when there is the same date as Formula 1 and Formula 2, you have to come and drive the championship in Formula 2,' so that race I had to miss because I had to drive a Formula 2 race."
The Italian also highlighted the introduction of the updated Shadow DN8 in Austria as a turning point for the team's competitiveness, which helped finish the season on a strong note. Beyond the on-track battles, Patrese shared intriguing insights into the uncertainty both drivers faced at the end of 1977, a period that ultimately paved the way for Jones to join Frank Williams and capture his iconic world championship crown.
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