The chance of the spare car was taken away when Jarier's car developed a fault with the fire extinguisher and he was allocated the spare car. With the cars starting to take their places on the grid, the mechanics finished work on Paletti's car. Before he could take his seat the news came in that Jarier had hit a wall, damaged his car and was returning to the pits. Jarier took out Paletti's repaired car leaving the frustrated young man to be a spectator at the race yet again.

The eighth meeting of the 1982 Formula 1 season was the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. While there he talked with is old team manager from Formula 2, Mike Earle. Earle was supporting Emilio de Villota as the third driver in the March team but was not happy with his performance. Paletti and Earle agreed to team up for the 1983 season.

Riccardo Paletti qualified twenty-third on the grid and this time he made it out onto the track for the race. It was his first start in a full Formula 1 grid. In pole position, the Ferrari of Didier Pironi stalled and the driver raised his arm to indicate the fault. This signal should have aborted the start but the light turned green and the cars started to accelerate along the starting straight. The drivers at the start of the grid managed to avoid the stationary vehicle but the drivers towards the rear of the grid had a problem many may not have seen Pironi's signal and, by the time they reached the, obstacle they would be moving at about 150 kph. Two cars clipped the Ferrari but did little damage to either themselves or Pironi's car. Paletti sticking to his driving line was not so lucky he hit the Ferrari at full speed shunting the car at least thirty meters along the track.

With the rest of the field already clear of the starting straight, Pironi exited his car to go to Paletti's aid. The race marshals and rescue team soon joined him. Paletti was unconscious in his car with his head resting on the steering wheel. As they worked to free the trapped driver, the escaping fuel caught fire. The fire marshals worked feverously to put out the fire as well as preventing the flames and smoke reaching the unconscious driver.

With the fire extinguished, it still took nearly twenty-five minutes to free Paletti from the mangled wreck of the Osella. He was flown by helicopter to the Royal Victoria Hospital for treatment but died of internal injuries two days short of his twenty-fourth birthday.

Riccardo Paletti's mother had flown to Montreal to watch her son race. They had intended going to New York for a few days to celebrate his birthday. Instead, she witnessed the tragic death of her beloved son.

Riccardo Paletti may not have had a long career in motorsport or a number of victories but he is well remembered in his Italian homeland. In 1983 the Varano circuit near Parma, Italy was renamed the Autodromo Riccardo Paletti

Riccardo Paletti: 15 June1958 to 13 June 1982 R.I.P.

Learn more about this author, Alison Bowler.
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