Ronnie Peterson

Bengt Ronnie Peterson (14 February 1944 - 11 September 1978), nicknamed "Superswede," was a Swedish racing driver who competed in Formula One from 1970 to 1978, winning 10 Grands Prix and twice finishing runner-up in the World Championship (1971, 1978) while establishing himself as one of the fastest and most spectacular drivers of his generation before dying from complications of injuries sustained in a first-lap crash at the 1978 Italian Grand Prix at Monza. After winning karting titles including two Swedish championships (1963, 1964), Peterson progressed to Formula Three, winning the 1969 Monaco Grand Prix Formula Three support race and the FIA European Formula 3 Championship before moving to Formula One with March factory team for 1970.

His first Formula One stint with March (1970-1972) brought consistent points finishes and established his reputation for car control and speed. Peterson joined Colin Chapman's Team Lotus for 1973, beginning his first association with the legendary British team. During his first two Lotus seasons, Peterson took seven victories and scored a career-best 52 points in 1973, finishing third in the championship and establishing himself among Formula One's elite. After a poor 1975 season, Peterson moved back to March, scoring his final victory for the team at the 1976 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

After spending 1977 with Tyrrell, he returned to Lotus for 1978 as number two driver to Mario Andretti in the innovative ground-effect Lotus 79—one of Formula One's most dominant cars. Peterson won at South Africa (with a last-lap pass of Patrick Depailler) and Austria, frequently finishing close behind Andretti and leading to speculation about team orders, though Peterson was offered a McLaren seat for 1979. The 1978 Italian Grand Prix weekend at Monza proved disastrous: Peterson damaged his Lotus 79 beyond immediate repair in practice, bruising his legs. The spare 79 was built for shorter Andretti, and Peterson didn't fit comfortably.

Morning warm-up brought rear brake failure, crashing the 79 and forcing him to revert to the previous-year Lotus 78 for the race. At the start, a collision involving Riccardo Patrese and James Hunt triggered a massive accident that sent Peterson's Lotus into barriers hard. The car caught fire before bouncing back into the track's middle. Hunt, Clay Regazzoni, and Depailler freed Peterson from the burning wreck before severe burns occurred, though he suffered severe leg injuries.

X-rays showed 27 fractures in both legs. Tragically, complications developed overnight, and Peterson died the morning of September 11, 1978, from fat embolism caused by his injuries. He finished second in the championship despite dying at Monza—a bittersweet posthumous achievement. Peterson's legacy endures as one of Formula One's greatest drivers never to win the World Championship, his spectacular driving style and gentle personality making him beloved by fans and respected by competitors.