For several seasons Gianni Morbidelli was a Formula 1 test driver with Ferrari, a measure of the high regard he was held in by the Italian team. He only drove a Ferrari once in a Grand Prix, but became a seasoned campaigner driving for Scuderia Italia, Minardi, Arrows and Sauber.
Morbidelli’s Career in Karting and Formula 3
Morbidelli was born in Pesaro, Italy, on January 13th, 1968, just a few days after the great Jim Clark scored his final Grand Prix victory. His father, Giancarlo, was a gifted engineer and the man behind the successful Morbidelli motorcycle company. Morbidelli’s own career started in karts at the age of eight. After six seasons in the category he moved into cars, including three years in the Italian Formula 3 championship. Morbidelli won the title in 1989, his final season in the category.
Formula 1 Driver with Scuderia Italia and Minardi
In 1990 Morbidelli became a Ferrari test driver, and also made his Formula 1 race debut for the Italian Scuderia Italia team. Towards the end of the season he competed in two more Grands Prix for Minardi. Away from Formula 1 Morbidelli drove for the Forti team in Formula 3000, recording one race victory.
A Grand Prix Point with Ferrari
Morbidelli concentrated on Formula 1 during 1991, driving for Minardi, until he was called upon to replace Alain Prost, who had left Ferrari in acrimonious circumstances. Morbidelli’s appearance in that year’s Australian Grand Prix yielded a sixth place finish and one championship point. He returned to Minardi for 1992 but failed to score any more points, with a best result of seventh in Brazil.
Formula 1 with Arrows and Sauber
During 1993 Morbidelli had a brief hiatus from Formula 1, competing in the Italian Touring Car series, before returning to Grand Prix racing in 1994 with Arrows. He stayed for two seasons, the highlight being a third place finish at the 1995 Australian Grand Prix.
After leaving Arrows Morbidelli’s Formula 1 career tailed off. In 1996 he was the test and reserve driver for Jordan, before returning to Ferrari as a tester in 1997. His final Grand Prix appearances came in 1997 at the wheel of a Sauber, but it was a difficult year as he struggled with injuries. Since the end of his Formula 1 career Morbidelli has raced in various touring car series, including the BTCC. He has also appeared in the ALMS and FIA GT championships.
 |
