Ricardo Rodríguez (racing driver)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Rodríguez and the second or maternal family name is de la Vega.

Ricardo Valentín Rodríguez de la Vega (14 February 1942 – 1 November 1962)^[1] was a Mexican racing driver who competed in the 1961 and 1962 Formula One seasons. He was the first Mexican driver ever to take part in a Formula One Grand Prix, and at the age of 19 years and 208 days, when first racing for Ferrari at the 1961 Italian Grand Prix, he became the youngest Formula One driver to race for the legendary Italian team, a title he still holds today. At this Italian Grand Prix, he also became the youngest driver to start a Formula One race until the 1980 Canadian Grand Prix, and the youngest driver to start from the first row until the 2016 Belgian Grand Prix, and at the 1962 Belgian Grand Prix he also became the youngest driver to score points in Formula One, a record he held until the 2000 Brazilian Grand Prix. His death at the age of 20 in 1962 made him the youngest Formula One driver to die.^[2]

Ricardo Rodríguez

Born	(1942-02-14)14 February 1942 Mexico City, Mexico
Died	1 November 1962(1962-11-01) (aged 20) Mexico City, Mexico
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	Mexican
Active years	1961–1962
Teams	Ferrari
Entries	6 (5 starts)
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	4
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1961 Italian Grand Prix
Last entry	1962 Italian Grand Prix

24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years	1959–1962
Teams	OSCA Automobili N.A.R.T. SpA Ferrari SEFAC
Best finish	2nd (1960)

His elder brother, Pedro, was also a noted racing driver who had much success in both sports car racing and Formula One, including a season with Ferrari in 1969, who was also fatally injured in a racing accident.

Personal

Rodríguez was born in Mexico City and was a child cycling champion who switched to motorcycles in domestic competition from the age of 11. He was the third son from the marriage of Pedro Natalio Rodríguez and Concepción "Conchita" (née de la Vega), he had three brothers and one sister, Pedro, Federico, Conchita and Alejandro.

He was married to Sara (née Cardoso) in July 1961 but left no children. In the summer of 1962 his close friend, Jo Ramírez, would accompany Ricardo to his adventure in Europe.^[3]

Career

He won several national motorcycle titles, before taking up saloon car racing in his own Fiat Topolino. In 1957 he made his international debut at Riverside, beating all comers in the under 1.5 litre class in a Porsche RS. He then won his class in a Porsche Spyder in the Nassau Tourist Trophy. He often raced for the North American Racing Team (NART) with his brother Pedro, although he would also enter cars under his own team's name, Scuderia Rodríguez.

He was refused an entry at Le Mans in 1958 because he was too young (16 years and 106 days), but went back in 1959 to race an OSCA in the 750cc class. In the edition of 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1960 he partnered André Pilette to second place. At 18 years and 133 days of age, he is the youngest driver ever to stand on the podium at Le Mans.^[4]

Rodríguez was given a guest drive by Ferrari for the 1961 Italian Grand Prix,^[5] qualifying a surprise second and becoming the youngest driver in history to start from front row (19 years and 208 days), a record that would not be beaten until the 2016 Belgian Grand Prix by Max Verstappen. In the race he exchanged the lead with Phil Hill and Richie Ginther many times, until a fuel pump failure ended his race. 1962 saw a full works drive with Ferrari, who used him sparingly considering his age and rough edges. Whenever used, Rodríguez shone, taking second at the Pau Grand Prix, fourth at the Belgian Grand Prix and sixth at the German Grand Prix in a tough year in Formula One for Ferrari. He also won the 1962 Targa Florio edition with Olivier Gendebien and Willy Mairesse in a Ferrari 246 SP.

Rodríguez was considered a potential future champion already, but was left without a drive when Ferrari opted not to enter the non-Championship 1962 Mexican Grand Prix at the Magdalena Mixiuhca Circuit, Mexico City. He signed to drive Rob Walker's Lotus 24, but died during the first day of unofficial practice, when the Lotus' rear right suspension failed at the fearsome Peraltada turn, and it hit the barriers, killing him instantaneously. He was 20 years old and his death provoked national mourning in Mexico.

The Scuderia Rodríguez A.C. (a friends and family foundation) keeps his memory and that of his brother alive. It serves as register for Rodríguez memorabilia and cars, certifying them, and its Secretary General Carlos Jalife published their biography in 2006, and a second edition came in 2015. He did an English translation that was published in 2009 and won the Motor Press Guild Book of the Year.^[6]

Racing record

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	WDC	Points
1961	Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari 156	Ferrari V6	MON	NED	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	ITA Ret	USA		NC	0
1962	Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari 156	Ferrari V6	NED Ret	MON DNS	BEL 4	FRA	GBR	GER 6	ITA 14	USA	RSA	13th	4

Formula One non-championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
1962	Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari 156	Ferrari V6	CAP	BRX	LOM	LAV	GLV	PAU 2	AIN	INT	NAP	MAL	CLP	RMS WD	SOL	KAN	MED	DAN	OUL
	Rob Walker Racing Team	Lotus 24	Climax V8																		MEX DNS	RAN	NAT

Ricardo Rodríguez in the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Year	Team	Num.	Car	Cat.	Co-driver	Grid	Laps	Result
			Engine				Hours
1958	North American Racing Team	25	Ferrari 500 TR58	S 2.0	José Behra	–	–	Did not start*
			Ferrari 2.0 L4				–
1959	OSCA Automobili	51	OSCA Sport 750TN	S 750	Pedro Rodríguez	11°	32	Retire (Water pump)
			OSCA 0.7L L4				5h
1960	North American Racing Team	17	Ferrari 250 TRI/59	S 3.0	André Pilette	9°	310	2nd
			Ferrari 3.0L V12				24h
1961	North American Racing Team	17	Ferrari 250 TRI/61	S 3.0	Pedro Rodríguez	2°	305	Retire (Engine)
			Ferrari 3.0L V12				23h
1962	SpA Ferrari SEFAC	28	Ferrari Ferrari 246 SP	E 3.0	Pedro Rodríguez	32°	174	Retire (Gear box)
			Ferrari 2.4L V6				13h

• On 1958 24 Hours of Le Mans judged to be too young, 16-year-old Ricardo Rodríguez was not allowed to start by the organisers, Automobile Club de l'Ouest, so was replaced by José Behra, brother of Jean, to accompany his older brother, Pedro Rodríguez.^[7]

References

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ricardo Rodríguez (racing driver).

1. Jenkins, Richard. "The World Championship drivers – Where are they now?". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 29 July 2007.
2. "Passed away". StatsF1. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
3. Jo Ramírez: Mi vida en Fórmula Uno, book, page 34
4. Book: Los Hermanos Rodríguez. 2006, page 181
5. "Standings".
6. "Book Review: 'The Brothers Rodríguez'".
7. http://www.sportscars.tv/Newsfiles/lemans58.html^{[permanent dead link]}

• Brothers Rodríguez book by Carlos Eduardo Jalife-Villalón, March 2009

Preceded by Wolfgang von Trips	Formula One fatal accidents 1 November 1962	Succeeded by Gary Hocking
Records
Preceded by Troy Ruttman 20 years, 80 days (1950 Indianapolis 500)	Youngest driver to start a Formula One race 19 years, 208 days (1961 Italian Grand Prix)	Succeeded by Mike Thackwell 19 years, 182 days (1980 Canadian GP)
Preceded by Bruce McLaren 21 years, 253 days (1959 Monaco GP)	Youngest driver to score points in Formula One 20 years, 123 days (1962 Belgian Grand Prix)	Succeeded by Jenson Button 20 years, 67 days (2000 Brazilian GP)