A real throwback to an era where drivers wore cloth caps, t shirts and goggles. Full of "Boys own" stories, living fast, partying hard.
He was lucky to survive a crash in 1962 which finished his career but he fought back to survive a coma and temporary paralysis.
Arguably the best driver to never win the F1 championship. It is well publicised that he fought for Mike Hawthorn to be reinstated at one of the 1958 GPs. Hawthorn was and subsequently went one to win the title. This the year after Peter Collins gave up his car for Fangio also costing him the title in the process. Proper Corinthian spirt back in those days. Once Fangio had retired, he was unlucky enough to come across the all conquering Jack Brabham/Cooper combination. He also never drove for Ferarri - which could have cost him - albeit there were rumours that he had secured a deal for 1962, a Ferrari painted in privateer Rob Walker's colours. That would have been fascinating, against Jim Clark too, but we never really got to see it.
A sad day for British motorpsort but in a way, a triumph that he made 90. So many of his compatriots were a lot less fortunate. This photo says everything you need to know :-
RIP
