15 Facts About Ivan Capelli

Ivan Franco Capelli was born on 24 May 1963 and is an Italian broadcaster and former racing driver, who competed in Formula One from 1985 to 1993.

Ivan Capelli was widely successful across lower formulae, winning titles in Italian Formula 3, FIA European Formula 3 and International Formula 3000.

Ivan Capelli participated in 98 Grands Prix, achieving three podiums.

Ivan Franco Capelli was born on 24 May 1963 in Milan, Italy.

Ivan Capelli began his career as a kart driver when he was 15 years old, and after four years he moved to the Italian Formula Three Championship.

In 1985, Ivan Capelli debuted in Formula One, driving a Tyrrell at the European Grand Prix, and finished fourth in Australia.

In 1987 Ivan Capelli was in Formula One full-time with the March team, led by Gariboldi and running Herd's new chassis with a Cosworth V8 normally aspirated engine.

In 1988 Ivan Capelli had a March chassis designed by Adrian Newey combined with a Judd V8 engine.

Ivan Capelli was joined in the team by the British Formula 3 Champion, Brazilian rookie Mauricio Gugelmin.

Team spirit remained intact despite the death of Gariboldi in a car crash and midway through the season Ivan Capelli felt happy enough in the team to take up his option for 1990.

Gugelmin finally retired, and Ivan Capelli was overtaken near the end by the Ferrari of Prost with only 3 laps remaining and went on to finish second.

Ivan Capelli had signed for Scuderia Ferrari for the '92 season, so he voluntarily stepped down, allowing pay driver Karl Wendlinger to finish the season and personally paid to attend the races he missed to offer support to the team and advice to his rookie substitute.

In 1992, Ivan Capelli became the first Italian with a regular drive with Ferrari since Michele Alboreto in 1988, after Gianni Morbidelli's one-off race for the team the season before.

The new car was not competitive and before the season began Ivan Capelli was showing his disappointment.

Ivan Capelli became a Formula One commentator from 1998 until 2017 on the Italian TV station Rai 1.