José González…Ferrari’s First GP Winner

José González, has died aged 90. The Argentinian Formula 1 driver secured Ferrari’s very first win at Silverstone in 1951.

Enzo Ferrari, was always suprised by González’s skill on how he managed to get the very best out the cars he drove, taking the win from Fangio (Alfa Romeo – Supercharged Straight 8) in a non-supercharged V12-engined 4.5-litre Ferrari 375 in an impressive victory at the Northamptionshire circuit.

González was born into cars being the son of a motor dealer in north west Buenos Aires, a keen athlete becoming a production-car road racer just like Fangio. Helped by his father in business he had the finances to go racing and in 1949 he joined Fangio in Europe. The first few seasons were tough racing internationally but when Mercedes-Benz went to Argentina in 1951 with their W163 cars, González found success and this was the platform he needed to secure the works Ferrari drive.

He spent time at Maserati in 1952 / 1953 but returned to Ferrari in 1954 and driving a Tipo 625 he managed to win again at Silverstone to take his second and final F1 win over in 26 F1 races enabling him to secure second in the Formula One drivers’ championship. González also managed to race at Le Mans 24-hour taking the win with a shared drive with Maurice Trintignant.

In 1956 he raced in the UK again in a Vanwall but the car broke a driveshaft on the grid so failed to start the race. In 1960 José competed in his final F1 race again in a Ferrari (246 Dino) taking part in the Buenos Aires GP where he finished 10th.