article by Andrea La Rovere adapted from Formula 1, the stories
Among the Formula 1 world champions there are some who are almost never remembered. In the case of Alan JonesWhen searching among the various groups of enthusiasts, a bit of ill will towards this very strong Australian driver often emerges.
Alan Jones was world champion in 1980 but, without some problems, he could also have won in 1979 and 1981. But let’s go in order.
Jones arrives in Europe in 1969, he is fast but has no money. After the minor formulas, found space in Formula 1 in 1975, with a private Hesketh. From Zandvoort he runs for Graham Hill, together with Tony Brise, another great promise. At the Nurburgring he took an excellent fifth place, then had to hand over the wheel to Rolf Stommelen.
In 1976, after a few races, Jones was signed by Surtees. Even though the car is a disaster, Alan scores seven points, with a fourth place under the downpour of Fuji. Despite his performances, too for 1977 it remains on foot. Tom Pryce’s tragic accident opens the doors of the Shadow to him.
Right away Jones shows himself to be fast and succeeds where the Shadow had always failed since its debut, winning the Austrian Grand Prix. He also gets on the podium in Monza and in the end he is seventh with 22 points. The following year saw the meeting that marked Jones’ career, the one with Frank Williams.
Sir Frank has been making do in Formula 1 for years, with little money and a lot of optimism. Finally, in ’78, he scores a coup: he gets sponsored by some very rich Arab companies. In Jones, Williams finds the ideal driver: fast, solid and loyal. There FW06 it is a traditional and fast single-seater. Jones has a series of excellent races, but often something breaks. At Watkins Glen he finished second, saving the season.
The FW07 1979 is something completely different: the best single-seater of the year. It’s a shame that it only arrives after four races and is unreliable for the first few. Jones becomes the dominator of Formula 1: he wins four races and at Silverstone and Watkins Glen he loses the victory due to simple breakdowns. The absurd scoring system that year prevents him from fighting for the titlebut it is clear to everyone: if the FW07 had it arrived at the beginning of the year, Jones would have become world champion.
1980 is his year. Wins five races (Argentina, France, Great Britain, Canada and at Watkins Glen) and the only opponent is Piquet, with the Brabham. A controversial incident in Canada between the two causes some controversy, but Jones’ title is well deserved.
The following year, Reutemann – his contractual wingman – rebelled and wins in Brazil. Jones, who seemed unbeatable, feels the pinch, and so does Williams. Alan no longer seems like himself and goes through a crisis from which he emerges only at the end of the year. Reutemann, meanwhile, scores point after point and seems destined to win the title. Williams and Jones do nothing to help him: in the end the champion is Piquet, who beats Carlos by one point and Jones by four.
Embittered, Jones abandons Formula 1. The following year he is contacted by Ferrari to replace Pironi but he stalls too long and in the end the steering wheel goes to Andretti.
In 1983 a first return, with a white Arrows without sponsors. He runs a decent race in Long Beach (12th in qualifying), then in the Race of Champions he is third but leaves again. At the end of 1985 he was tempted by the Haas-Lola-Ford project. Jones is almost forty years old and – despite a decent ’86 – at the end of the year he says enough, as does the American team. The haul is just four points, with a fourth place in Austria and sixth in Monza.
He continues to race in various categories, remaining a point of reference in Australia for the entire world of motorsport. Alan Jones won 12 Grands Prix, with 24 total podiums, 6 poles and 13 fastest laps.
2024-05-22 12:29:00
#ALAN #JONES #UNDERRATED #CHAMPION #SportHistoria
