As Speedcafe reports, Riccardo Patrese has opened up about his time sharing a garage with Alan Jones during their rookie days together at Shadow in 1977. Looking back at the 1980 world champion, the Italian recalled a fierce competitor on the circuit who was entirely lovable away from the track. The pair shared nine grands prix that season, locking down their only double points finish at the season-ending Japanese Grand Prix, where Jones secured fourth and Patrese took sixth to claim his very first F1 point.
That partnership might have been even closer had scheduling not intervened. Patrese was forced to miss the Austrian Grand Prix due to an existing commitment to race in Formula 2, as dictated by his boss Pino Trivellato whenever the two championships clashed. It was precisely at that Austrian round that Jones powered the newly updated Shadow DN8 to victory. That triumph remains the only F1 win in Shadow's history, famously resulting in 'Happy Birthday' being played on a trumpet during the podium ceremony because the organizers did not have the Australian national anthem on hand.
Beyond the race track, the two drivers found themselves navigating a period of intense career uncertainty at the end of 1977. Both men were in the frame for a seat at the newly established Arrows team, while a little-known Frank Williams was attempting to launch his own operation with engineer Patrick Head. Patrese remembered those early days vividly, noting that Williams could not afford dinner at night because he simply had no money. Despite fighting for the same professional survival, the friends remained completely open with each other, even discussing their options while flying to Macau for an end-of-season race where they drove for rival, enemy-backed teams run by Teddy Heap and Bob Harper.
The situation was finally resolved when Patrese returned to Europe in late November and received a positive answer from Arrows. He immediately called Jones to share the news, leaving the Australian free to take the fateful plunge with Williams. Patrese believed Arrows ultimately favored his youth over Jones' greater experience, noting that their on-track pace was remarkably evenly matched. Jones went on to help transform Williams into a powerhouse, claiming four victories in 1979 before securing the world championship in 1980.
Patrese would eventually follow a similar path, joining Williams in 1987 and staying until 1992 to take four of his six career grand prix victories. He ultimately retired from F1 in 1993 following 256 grand prix starts, a record that stood until Rubens Barrichello surpassed it at the 2008 Turkish Grand Prix. The Italian also pointed to Jones' uncompromising nature, recalling the fierce rivalry with teammate Carlos Reutemann in 1981, where Jones refused to assist Reutemann's title bid and charged straight to victory in the final race.
Despite that ruthless streak on the asphalt, Patrese insisted the Australian should be remembered just as much for his gentleness and respect away from the racing machine. The two had not seen each other for more than two decades, with their final meeting taking place at the Grand Prix Masters event in South Africa in 2005. Jones passed away last Thursday, leaving behind a legacy of immense speed and unforgettable character.
F1
F1
