Top 5 Italian F1 Drivers of all time

#4 - Michele Alboretto

Michele Alboreto came closest to winning the title during his time at Ferrari.

Michele Alboreto is often overlooked as one of the great drivers of his time, because there were simply so many during the 1980's, but he was a superb talent that could've become world champion.

Alboreto began his F1 career with Tyrrell in 1981, a team with good pedigree, but one that was far from the force it was in the 1970's. That being said, Alboretto still managed to produce great results, not dissimilarly to how Jean Alesi would do so for Ken Tyrrell's team in the early '90's.

His first podium came in his home country at Imola in 1982 and this was followed by a victory in the final round at Caesar's Palace (Yes, they raced there). Alboreto would win once more the following year in Detroit (Tyrrell's final win in the sport) before earning every Italian driver's dream move, to Ferrari.

McLaren were untouchable in 1984, but '85 gave Alboreto a chance to win the driver's title for the Scuderia. With five rounds remaining, Michele was Alain Prost's only real challenger for the title, sitting just 3 points behind the Frenchman. However, it simply wasn't to be, as 3 mechanical failures in the next three races handed the title to Prost.

Alboreto would never hit the same heights again, leaving Ferrari after 1988, but he did manage some admirable results in poor cars. Such as his podium for Tyrrell in '89 and scoring points mulitple times for the Footwork team in 1992.