Mario Andretti

Mario Gabriele Andretti (born 28 February 1940 in Montona, Istria, Kingdom of Italy) is an Italian-American racing car driver. With a hugely successful career spanning multiple decades, Mario Andretti is widely considered one of the greatest racing drivers of all time.

Formula One

1976

In 1976, Mario Andretti raced for the John Player Team Lotus team, initially alongside Swede Ronnie Peterson - whom would later be replaced by Frenchman Patrick Tambay due to injury. The latter would take a win at the season-ending Japanese Grand Prix.

Despite not taking a win all season, his consistent pace throughout the whole year meant Andretti would finish in third place overall in the driver's championship.

1977

1977 saw Andretti remain at the Lotus team, this time using the revolutionary Lotus 77 - one of the first cars to take advantage of the "ground effect" theorem of race car design. Andretti would be joined this time by Briton Thomas Nurmester.

A pair of second places followed by a win at the Spanish Grand Prix meant that Andretti would head into the second quarter of the season in the lead of the championship.