A life devoted to motorsport — from racing circuits to TV studios. Andrea de Adamich, former Formula 1 driver and legendary commentator, has passed away at the age of 84.
Born in Trieste, de Adamich became a reference figure for generations of fans. Driver, media personality, educator — his career left a mark both on track and on screen.
Racing career with Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and in Formula 1
De Adamich began racing in 1962 and quickly made a name for himself, winning the Italian Formula 3 title in 1965. His partnership with Alfa Romeo launched him onto the international stage: he won the European Touring Car Championship twice, in 1966 and 1967, driving the iconic Giulia GTA.
His Formula 1 debut arrived in 1968. Across five seasons he raced for teams such as Ferrari, McLaren, March, Surtees and Brabham, combining F1 with endurance racing. With Alfa Romeo he also secured two victories in the World Sportscar Championship. He retired from competition in 1974.
The voice of Formula 1 for Italian fans
After hanging up his helmet, de Adamich became one of the most recognizable figures in Italian motorsport media. From 1978 to 2009, he was a central presence in Mediaset’s F1 coverage, contributing to the sport’s popularity in Italy with competence, balance and passion.
In 1991, he founded the International Safe Driving Center, continuing his historic partnership with Alfa Romeo and dedicating himself to road safety education.
On June 2, 2022, he was awarded the title of Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic — a tribute to a lifetime dedicated to motorsport.
Photo: Wikipedia, Massimo Campi
