The sports horizon lit many stars around the world. Some went a long way, others, not having time to break out, finished their flight ... But their swiftness and talent are still remembered with admiration and warmth. It was to this category of celebrities that Jochen Rindt, the legendary Formula 1 racing driver, belonged. How did it all begin and what turn turned out to be fatal for him?
Difficult childhood
Today, there is hardly a Formula 1 fan who has not heard that name - Jochen Rindt. His biography begins on April 18, 1942 in the beautiful city of Mainz (Germany). Caring parents, a friendly, strong family and a promising future - what more could you ask for? However, the tale ended when Jochen was one year old. As a result of the military bombing, his parents died, and the boy had to move to his grandparents on the maternal side in Graz (Austria).
Time passed, life here to Jochen seemed boring and unpromising. In a private school, where he studied, there were constantly problems. The guy was behind in school, he was attracted by speed and thrills. Having saved on pocket money, at the age of 17 he bought his first motorcycle and drove it before official obtaining rights. An accidental collision with a teacher led to Jochen's arrest and expulsion from college. He regarded this as a sign to move on and in another direction. Therefore, the young man with a calm heart left everything and left for England.
Racer Formation
When Rindt was 22 years old, he bought a Brabham for 4 thousand pounds and began to try his hand at Formula 2 among professionals. What was the surprise of the experts when the young race car driver overtook champion Graham Hill! The very next day, all of Great Britain started talking about a rising star.
However, barely conquering the “Formula 2”, Jochen Rindt thought about higher goals. His ambitions and talent, of course, required more speed and new heights, so he soon received a prize contract in Formula 1.
New level
At the beginning of his career, the Austrian racing driver won the love of the public thanks exclusively to his expert aerobatics, sense of humor and personal charm. Only his racing cars were lagging behind. However, working in a team of engineer Colin Chapman largely solved this problem. Although it is impossible not to note the paradox of this union. Jochen Rindt pursued only high speed. Constant checks of aerodynamics and subtleties of settings were alien to him. Of course, such neglect annoyed Chapman, but the pilot had a clear talent. Releasing a star from the team was simply unthinkable.
Designed specifically for Jochen, the Lotus-72 became the most powerful car for the young rider and went down in the history of Formula 1. It was on it that Rindt won four Grand Prix of Great Britain, France, Germany and Holland. The Italian Grand Prix proved fatal for the Austrian pilot.
Personal qualities
According to contemporaries, Jochen possessed literally the entire set of qualities necessary for an absolute winner. He was fearless, was able to deftly maneuver on turns, had strategic thinking that helped him to make decisions quickly, to cunning and thereby overtake his rivals. Jochen Rindt quickly grasped everything. Racing for him was a true passion, a source of self-expression. He did not pursue money, like many of his colleagues. Although the sums from participation and victories were rather big. Perhaps all this helped him to reach the highest level. But such a rapid nature always lacked good transport. Even the legendary Lotus-72 could not fully satisfy his needs. His ambitions and pressure turned out to be stronger than technology.
Achievements
Jochen Rindt has reached heights in his short but vibrant career, to which many other talented race racers have gone for quite some time, overcoming various difficulties. For six years of professional sports, he won personal victories six times, took pole positions 10 times, earned 109 points and became the one-time world champion.
Personal life
In its success, personal life did not lag behind Jochen's career. Already a Formula 2 star, he married the Finnish model and the daughter of the famous racer Kurt Lincoln - Nina. Soon, their lovely daughter Natasha was born. The family openly demonstrated their love and harmony. Nina accompanied her husband literally at all races: test and official.
For some time, the promising model remained in the shadow of the glory of her husband. While Jochen Rindt shone on the winner's podium, his wife was engaged in home improvement, raising a child and insisted on ending her racing career. She did not approve of this speed and desperation of her husband and asked to be more responsible in relation to the family. The Italian Grand Prix was to be the final competition in the career of Jochen.
After the tragedy, women's and men's responsibilities fell on Nina's shoulders. She rarely gave interviews to the press, especially if the topic was about her husband’s death. However, her subtle flair and sense of style still brought her fame, turning it into a real style icon.
Crash
It is difficult to imagine what heights with his talent Jochen Rindt could reach. The accident cut short his life. This accident is still an example for professional riders that any risk and exorbitant thirst for victory have a price.
It happened on September 5, 1970 during training races before the Grand Prix in Italy, at the circuit of the city of Monza. Jochen was a little behind in speed from his rivals on the “Ferrari” - Jacques X and Clay Regazzoni, so he was looking for a way to win back for the previous stages of “Formula 1”. Rindt took a risk and convinced the engineers from his team to remove the wing from the “Lotus” in order to reduce air resistance and gain an additional few seconds of time. The calculation was accurate for Jochen, although engineers were wary of this idea.
The race began, everything went fine. However, at the last turn of the parabolic shape (“Parabolic”) during the braking of the Lotus, Jochen tore off the trajectory and carried to the barrier fence. The collision was inevitable, the car shattered into pieces. The Austrian rider was immediately evacuated from the car and taken to the hospital. But he was already dead. As it turned out, the seat belt during maneuvers and a collision cut Rindt's throat.
Interesting Facts
- Colin Chapman's team included riders only from the UK. Jochen Rindt became the first Austrian in its composition.
- In 1970, the first Formula 1 races did not bring Jochen points. To increase his chances of leadership, he went on a trick. His main rival was Jack Brabham. Check was in Monte Carlo. Almost before the finish, Jochen caught up with him and made him make a mistake on the corner, which won him time. Jack crashed into the barrier and finished 20 seconds later.
- Jochen Rindt never used a seat belt, believing that he was interfering with flying. However, on the fateful day, he first acted differently, which was one of the causes of his death.
- Jochen had two close racer friends - Bruce McLaren and Pierce Caridge. Both, with a difference of three weeks, died in test races a few months before the death of Rindt. Despite this loss and omen, the Austrian racer still decided to continue to participate in the “Formula 1 ″. As Jochen himself said, he did not know how much was left for him, he only tried his best.
- The idol of the Austrian was Wolfgang von Trips - an outstanding racer, the pilot of “Ferrari”. Coincidence or not, but Jochen Rindt died on the same turn as Trips nine years before.
- Jochen was the first race car driver to receive a posthumous world champion award. The trophy was given to his widow - Nina Rindt.