The former driver, 56, suffered a heart attack at a car club in Florida
MADRID, 30 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Former Brazilian driver Gil de Ferran died at the age of 56 after suffering a heart attack at a motor racing club in Florida (United States), a loss that was regretted in the motor world.
The Brazilian Automobile Confederation reported the tragic news and the official Formula 1 website also reported the death of the former sporting director of Honda and Mercedes.
Spanish drivers Carlos Sainz, both father and son, and Fernando Alonso lamented the sad news. “I am speechless, it is a very sad day. Thank you for the moments we shared, for the teaching full of enthusiasm about how to race on the ovals and for countless memories together,” wrote the Asturian.
And De Ferran was champion of the Indianapolis 500 in 2003. Before, the French-born driver won the British Formula 3 in 1992 and was third in the Formula 3,000 World Championship two years later. The Brazilian later triumphed in the United States.
After his racing career, De Ferran held various important positions in F1, including team director at Honda and then at McLaren from 2018 to 2021. In recent months, the former driver had returned to the Woking factory.