Ricardo Patrese is the last race FORMULA 1 took to Australia in 1993. For the 1994 season, he could no longer find an empty seat, but was still looking for opportunities to return to the caravan. »It was very hard for me when the season started. I was at home and not in a race car. At the beginning of 1994, I had not yet decided to quit. The desire to race again was very great, ”Recalls Ricardo Patrese.
»I had an idea how to get back. So I went to race in Imolo and stopped at boxing Williams. Of course, even before the tragic accident Aytron. I knew they had a car problem. So I went to greet them and make my offer. I said I could test the current car and help solve the problems, " reveals patrese, who drove between 1987 and 1992 for Williams.
»Active suspension, which is Williams developed to detail, was banned in 1993. They found themselves in trouble and I could help as I was the last racer to race with passive suspension in Williams FW14 from 1991, ”He recalls patrese.
»Senna had problems with Schumacher. He resigned in the first two races while Michael Schumacher won and had as many as a 20 point advantage. V Imoli was Senna also under great pressure. That's how I am Frank (Williams) in Patrick (Head) presented my idea. They were thrilled. But I also thought that if I was fast enough, I might be able to get a chance for the 1995 season as Ayrton's teammate," he said Italian.
»Then we presented the idea Ayrton. He was thrilled. That was on Saturday afternoon, after training, ”He said patrese adding: "I said goodbye to Ayrton and told him “See you at the test”. He said he was looking forward to cooperating. Then I went home and experienced a shock on Sunday, " he says patrese.
»It immediately occurred to me that the situation had now changed, and with it probably my offer as well. They not only needed a test driver, but a racer. For I went to the next race in Monako and met with Williams. Frank he offered me a seat, but I slept badly for days after the accident. It was very strange and uncomfortable for me, ”He admits patrese and adds: »I simply had my doubts! «
»When I was introduced to the fact that I had to replace Ayrton, I was no longer determined. Ayrton was the best driver on the best team. If this happened to him, it could have happened to me, I thought. I have spent many years in FORMULAS 1 and I didn't want that to happen to me either,«He explained patrese.
»I called Frank and told him he had better find another racer. He asked me if I really thought so and I told him yes. I just didn’t feel good, ”He concluded Italian.
Finally, he says: "When I hung up the phone, I realized it was the end of my career in FORMULAS 1«.
They are cockpit until the end of the season Ayrton Senna shared David Coulthard in Nigel Mansell. Ricardo Patrese was then given the opportunity in 1996 to test Williams FW18. It also stayed in testing as it did Williams redirected to Jacques Joseph Charles Villeneuve, who then became world champion in 1997.
Ricardo patrese he then, after 17 years of retirement, in 2008 received an invitation from Honda and in Jerez tested the then current Honda RA108 race car.
