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LUIGI FAGIOLI
53y 0m 22d (1951 French GP)
The great Italian’s career began as early as 1926 (and we think Fernando Alonso has been plugging away a long time). A multiple grand prix winner in the 1930s, Luigi Fagioli returned post-war as one of Alfa Romeo’s ‘three Fs’ for the new world championship. His only victory in the nascent series was unhappily shared – and marked his last F1 start. Hauled from his Alfetta at Reims after an early spin, Juan Manuel Fangio took over and won. Known for his temper, proud Fagioli walked away. He was dead less than a year later, three weeks after crashing during practice in the only Monaco GP run for sports cars.