11 February 2022
‘Driving fast on the track does not scare me. What scares me is when I drive on the highway, and I get passed by some idiot who thinks he is Fangio.’ – Juan Manuel Fangio.
Juan Manuel Fangio is regarded by many as the most fantastic Grand Prix driver of all time. In seven full Formula One seasons, he missed one race recovering from a nearly fatal injury. He was World Champion five times, with four different teams and runner-up twice. He drove for Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, and Maserati. This remarkable achievement has never been surpassed.
He holds the highest winning percentage in Formula One at 46.15%, winning 24 of 52 Formula 1 Races.
Known by many simply as “El Maestro” or “The Master,
What is astonishing is that he didn’t start F1 racing until he was 37, an age when most drivers would be considering retiring.
He won two of his World Championships when driving for Mercedes-Benz in 1954 and 1955; although he raced and won for many teams, it would be Mercedes that he remained closest to, becoming an ambassador for the brand upon retiring. In 1958 Mercedes-Benz, gifted him a 300 SL, and he drove it over 70,000 km on tours of Europe and South America.
Owning a piece of racing history is something few of us will ever experience. Still, for one wealthy buyer, the opportunity to own one of the most remarkable cars ever associated with an F1 legend is now for sale.
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster is currently located in Switzerland and will be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s between February 28 and March 4.
A superb video has been prepared: