Ronnie Peterson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ronnie Peterson

Peterson at the Dutch Grand Prix in August 1978
Born	(1944-02-14)14 February 1944 Örebro, Sweden
Died	11 September 1978(1978-09-11) (aged 34) Milan, Italy
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	Swedish
Active years	1970–1978
Teams	March inc. non-works, Tyrrell, Lotus
Entries	123
Championships	0
Wins	10
Podiums	26
Career points	206
Pole positions	14
Fastest laps	9
First entry	1970 Monaco Grand Prix
First win	1973 French Grand Prix
Last win	1978 Austrian Grand Prix
Last entry	1978 Italian Grand Prix

Bengt Ronnie Peterson (born February 14, 1944 – died September 11, 1978) was a Swedish racing driver. People called him 'SuperSwede' because of his amazing speed. He finished second twice in the Formula One World Drivers' Championship.

Ronnie started his racing journey in kart racing. This is where most race drivers begin their careers. He won many karting titles, including two Swedish championships in 1963 and 1964. Then, he moved to Formula Three. He won the Monaco Grand Prix Formula Three support race in 1969. Later that year, he won the FIA European Formula 3 Championship. After these wins, he joined Formula One with the March factory team. He stayed with March for three years. During this time, he earned six podium finishes. Most of these were in the 1971 Formula One season. He also finished second in the Drivers' Championship that year.

After his contract with March ended, Peterson joined Colin Chapman's Team Lotus in the 1973 season. He raced alongside the champion, Emerson Fittipaldi. In his first two years with Lotus, Ronnie won seven races. He scored his highest points total, 52, in 1973. After a difficult 1975 season, Peterson went back to March. He won his last race for them at the 1976 Italian Grand Prix. In 1977, he raced for Tyrrell. Then, he returned to Lotus for the 1978 season. He was the second driver to Mario Andretti. Ronnie won two races that year: the South African and Austrian Grand Prix. He finished second in the Drivers' Championship. This was despite a serious accident at Monza during the Italian Grand Prix.

Ronnie's Early Life & Racing Start

Ronnie Peterson was born in Almby, near Örebro, Sweden. He learned his driving style very young while racing karts. He quickly became one of the best in European karting. After that, he moved on to racing cars.

Moving Up in Racing

After his karting days, Peterson started racing in Formula Three. He used a car called the Svebe. He designed it with his father, Bengt, and Sven Andersson. His great results quickly caught the eye of the Italian company Tecno. They signed him in 1968. With Tecno, he won the 1969 Formula Three Championship.

Even after joining F1, Peterson still raced in lower series. This was common back then. He won the 1971 European Formula Two Championship while driving for March.

Ronnie's Formula One Career

Starting in Formula One

Ronnie Peterson talking with Colin Crabbe at the 1970 Dutch Grand Prix.

Ronnie Peterson at Hockenheim in 1971 for a F2 race.

Peterson made his first Grand Prix appearance in 1970. He drove a March 701 for Colin Crabbe's team at the 1970 Monaco Grand Prix. His team had a small budget, so there was not much testing. Ronnie qualified 12th out of 16 cars. He finished the race in seventh place. He was the only March driver to finish.

In 1971, Peterson joined the main March team. He made a big impact right away. He finished second in five Formula One Grand Prix races. This helped him become runner-up to Jackie Stewart in the World Championship that year. In 1971, Peterson also won the Watkins Glen 6 hours race in the World Sports Car Championship. Peterson stayed with March until 1973. Then, he joined John Player Team Lotus to race with Emerson Fittipaldi.

Winning Races with Lotus and March

Ronnie Peterson in the Lotus 72 at the 1973 Dutch Grand Prix.

Ronnie Peterson at the 1974 British Grand Prix.

Ronnie Peterson's first Grand Prix win was at the 1973 French Grand Prix. This race was held at Paul Ricard. He drove a Lotus 72. He won three more races that year: in Austria, Italy, and the United States. But his car sometimes broke down, which limited him to third place in the World Championship.

For 1974, Lotus introduced a new car, the Lotus 76. But this car did not work well. Both Peterson and his teammate Ickx did not like it. So, the team decided they should drive the older Lotus 72s. Peterson did very well in the old car. He won three more races: the French and Italian Grands Prix, and the Monaco Grand Prix.

Ronnie Peterson at Silverstone in 1975.

The 1975 was a tough year for Lotus. Peterson and Ickx had to use the old 72 model. The car was showing its age. Peterson had planned to join another team, Shadow. But Lotus owner Colin Chapman convinced him to stay. Chapman promised to improve the Lotus 77 car faster. Ronnie drove the first race of 1976 in the Lotus 77. Then, he went back to March Engineering. Driving the March 761, he won the Italian Grand Prix.

He also kept racing sports cars, especially for BMW in 1974 and 1975. For example, he raced with Hans-Joachim Stuck in a BMW 3.0 CSL. They raced in South Africa in November 1975. They started in first place but finished second.

Racing for Tyrrell in 1977

Ronnie Peterson driving the Tyrrell P34B at the 1977 Race of Champions.

In 1977, Ronnie raced for Tyrrell. He drove the unique six-wheel Tyrrell P34B. Peterson had to stop early in the first four races of 1977. He spun off in Argentina. He was in a crash in Brazil. He had fuel problems in South Africa and United States West. He finished eighth in Spain. But he had to stop at Monaco because of brake failure.

Ronnie's only podium finish that year was third place in a rainy race in Belgium. He had hoped for a good result in his home country, Sweden, but he had ignition problems. He finished 12th in France. He had an engine problem in Britain. He finished ninth in Germany and fifth in Austria. Peterson had to stop again due to ignition problems in Holland. He was sixth in Italy and 16th in the United States. Ronnie stopped early in the last two races of 1977. In Japan, he crashed with Gilles Villeneuve's Ferrari. Sadly, a marshal and a photographer were killed in this accident. They were in a forbidden area of the track.

Back with Lotus in 1978

Many people were surprised when Peterson left Tyrrell to return to John Player Team Lotus for 1978. He won the 1978 South African Grand Prix. He had a close last-lap victory over Patrick Depailler. He also won the Austrian Grand Prix. He drove the new 'ground effect' Lotus 79 car. His teammate Mario Andretti won the Drivers' Championship. Peterson was seen as the team's "No. 2" driver. They had four races where they finished first and second, with Andretti always leading. Both of Peterson's wins happened when Andretti had trouble.

Many people in the 1970s thought Peterson was the fastest driver in F1. During the 1978 season, Andretti often had faster qualifying times. Some thought Peterson was faster, but Andretti was better at developing the cars. Peterson never complained about this. He often said that Andretti was simply faster. Peterson was offered a spot at McLaren for 1979.

Ronnie's Final Race and Legacy

Ronnie Peterson just hours before the 1978 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

The 1978 Italian Grand Prix at Monza started badly for Peterson. In practice, he damaged his Lotus 79 race car. He also bruised his legs. Team Lotus had a spare 79, but it was built for Andretti. Peterson was much taller and did not fit well. The only other car was an older Lotus 78. This car had not been well maintained that season.

The race start was very messy. Many drivers said the starter light turned green too early. Cars at the back were still moving when the light came on. This caused cars to bunch up tightly as they approached the first turn. The first four cars avoided the crash. But Peterson had a poor start. He was quickly passed by several drivers. Then, James Hunt collided with Peterson. Many other cars were involved in the crash.

Peterson's Lotus hit the barriers hard and caught fire. It bounced back into the middle of the track. He was stuck in the burning car. But Hunt, Clay Regazzoni, and Patrick Depailler quickly pulled him out. He had only minor burns. Marshals put out the fire. Ronnie was lying on the track, awake, but with serious leg injuries.

At first, people were more worried about Vittorio Brambilla. He had been hit on the head by a flying wheel. He was unconscious in his car. Brambilla was badly hurt and did not race in Formula One for a year. Ronnie's life was not thought to be in danger. The injured drivers, including Peterson, were taken to a hospital in Milan. The race was restarted after the track was cleared.

At the hospital, X-rays showed Ronnie had about 27 fractures in his legs and feet. Doctors operated to fix the bones. But during the night, Ronnie's condition got worse. He developed complications from his injuries. He passed away at 9:55 am on September 11, 1978.

His teammate Mario Andretti won the championship at that race. Andretti said it was sad to have a tragedy on what should have been his happiest day. He knew Ronnie would have been happy for him. Peterson finished second in the 1978 drivers' standings even after his death.

The statue of Ronnie Peterson in Almby, Örebro, was unveiled in August 2003.

Ronnie Peterson raced in 123 Grand Prix races. He won ten of them. At his funeral, many famous drivers were pallbearers. These included James Hunt, Jody Scheckter, and Niki Lauda.

Ronnie's Lasting Impact

Many people think Peterson was one of the best Formula One drivers who never won a championship. He is also considered the best racing driver from Sweden. In 2016, a study ranked Peterson as the 21st best Formula One driver of all time. He was the sixth best among those who never won a title.

In 1979, musician George Harrison honored Peterson with a song and music video called "Faster".

Ronnie's widow, Barbro, passed away on December 19, 1987. She was buried next to Ronnie in Örebro. They had a daughter named Nina Louise, born in November 1975.

There is a statue of Peterson in Örebro. An official Ronnie Peterson museum opened in Örebro in 2008. Ronnie's daughter, Nina Kennedy, opened it. The museum closed in 2009 because it could not get more government money.

A film about Ronnie Peterson, Superswede: A film about Ronnie Peterson (2017), is available online. It features Mario Andretti, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Niki Lauda.

During the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix, Swedish Formula One driver Marcus Ericsson wore a special helmet. It was designed like Peterson's helmet to honor him. Ericsson wore a similar helmet when he won the 2022 Indianapolis 500.

Ronnie's Racing Achievements

Career Summary

^‡ Graded drivers not eligible for European Formula Two Championship points

Images for kids

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  Peterson at the Dutch Grand Prix in August 1978

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  Ronnie Peterson talking with Colin Crabbe at the 1970 Dutch Grand Prix.

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  Ronnie Peterson at Hockenheim in 1971 for a F2 race.

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  Ronnie Peterson in the Lotus 72 at the 1973 Dutch Grand Prix.

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  Ronnie Peterson at the 1974 British Grand Prix.

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  Ronnie Peterson at Silverstone in 1975.

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  Ronnie Peterson driving the Tyrrell P34B at the 1977 Race of Champions.

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  Ronnie Peterson just hours before the 1978 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

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  The statue of Ronnie Peterson in Almby, Örebro, was unveiled in August 2003.

See also

In Spanish: Ronnie Peterson para niños