Mar 02, 2008
If there’s one thing that F1 can’t be beat by in terms of technology and manufacturing expertise involved, it’s the intelligent use of carbon fiber. This technology dominated race car specific manufacturing in the years to come and it was no different in 1982. The season started on January 23 and consisted of sixteen races. Every single race was now steeped in the competitive tradition and this was a landmark in F1 history. The U.S was significantly used for three Prix—Las Vegas, U.S East and U.S West. The tension was palpable this season and Keke Rosberg won the championship although he had only won a single race. In fact, John Watson, Alain Prost, Niki Lauda, Didier Pironi and Rene Arnoux each had two victories! This kind of extreme competition was augmented by the daunting cars everyone drove; nothing short of electrifying speed demons! Rosberg with his Williams, Arnoux and Prost driving their Renaults, Tambay and Pironi with Ferrari’s, Watson and Lauda with McLarens , Piquet and Patrese with Brabhams… each won a race. With the deaths of Riccardo Paletti and Gilles Villeneuve, it was clear that F1 was a high risk sport there was much was to be lost apart from gained. There were controversies before the season started that threatened to create bad headlines. Niki Lauda took exception to the new licensing policy and started a drivers' strike. Prost won the first race after the protests quieted. A second victory in Brazil silenced critics and suddenly, everyone was watching out for Prost. However, Lauda won the next race in Long Beach, USA with his McLaren. Piquet and Rosberg had been disqualified owing to a fiasco in Brazil. At the San Marino race, serious internal tensions and misunderstandings would mix together for Pironi and Villeneuve ending in a non-communicative stance. It was sad because the next race would be Villeneuve’s last. His Ferrari was launched into the air and smashed into the ground while he was tossed out of the car hitting the barriers. He died and Ferrari was forced to retire from the race allowing John Watson’s victory. The race at Monaco was fueled by the last two laps which were as exciting as they were fast. Renault drivers, Arnaux and Prost led the pack right at the outset but both suffered crashes. Patrese took the lead at the 74th lap but Pironi’s Ferrari sped past him. Patrese’s Brabham-Ford eventually won. John Watson had a good time at the Detroit Prix on June 6 but tragedy struck again on June 13 at Canada. Pironi’s stationary car was hit by Riccardo Paletti, who died in the impact and fire. Piquet won the race but Pironi came back to win victory in Holland, where Arnoux escaped a scary crash with his Renault. Lauda won in Britain while Frenchman Arnoux took a victory in his France with his Renault. De Angelis had his first win in Austria, as Rosberg's last-lap lunge for the win was short by microseconds! Rosberg however nailed the Swiss Grand Prix. Surely 1982 was a year of many winners, tragic deaths and intense competition! Rosberg was leading the championship now with 44 points. In Italy he was unbeatable and in the final round at Las Vegas, took an unlikely win becoming Finland’s first World Champion.