Though he did not look at all like a racing driver, Argentine José Froilán González (“The Pampas Bull”) was the first-ever Formula One GP winner for Scuderia Ferrari in the 1951 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. He passed away yesterday at 90 years of age, 60+ years after surviving a bleak period in motor racing when it seemed nearly everyone died.

At the wheel of the new non-supercharged V12-engined 4.5-litre Ferrari 375, González scored an impressive victory in 1951 over Fangio’s supercharged straight-eight cylinder Alfa Romeo 158. Arms flailing at the wheel and with his considerable bulk overhanging the sides, González caught and passed his compatriot and pulled away to clinch a decisive win. Nevertheless, González came into the pits for his final scheduled stop half expecting to be asked to relinquish his car to his team leader, Alberto Ascari, whose sister car had retired with gearbox trouble four laps earlier. González made as if to climb from the cockpit, but Ascari placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder and indicated he should remain at the wheel.

José Froilán González obituary | The Guardian.