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The many Formula 1 racing drivers from Switzerland

Name: Ferrari 312 T
Brand: Ferrari

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Created on December 24, 2008

Text:

Peter Wyss

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Swiss Formula 1 driver Toulo de Graffenried

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Summary

Although the small country of Switzerland has produced a whole series of Formula 1 drivers, the big breakthrough that the exceptionally talented Roger Federer achieved in tennis, for example, has not materialized. Here is a look back at Switzerland's Formula 1 drivers up to Toulo de Graffenried.

Estimated reading time: 3min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The great GP years are long gone. However, Swiss drivers have repeatedly made it into Formula 1 with good results. Take 1985, for example: in Bernie Ecclestone's team at the time and with BMW turbo power behind him, Marc Surer put in some brilliant performances. Finishing fourth in the Italian Grand Prix on September 8, 1985 in Monza, the Basel native scored good points in the World Championship. Although on course more than once, Surer was denied a podium finish. A serious accident at the 1986 Hesse Rally, in which his co-driver Michel Wyder died and he himself suffered burns, ended Surer's career.However, the greatest time in GP racing was around three decades ago. In 1968, Joseph "Jo" Siffert celebrated his first of two victories at Brands Hatch. In 1971, he achieved his second GP victory in Zeltweg (A). Two months later, the man from Freiburg lost his life in a Formula 1 race at Brands Hatch that was not part of the World Championship. In 1949, the year before the Formula 1 World Championship was introduced, Baron Emmanuel "Toulo" de Graffenried was the first Swiss GP winner to cross the finish line at Silverstone. The equally unforgettable Clay Regazzoni achieved his last triumph with Williams at the same venue in 1979. In 1970, the driver from Ticino won for the first time in Monza with Ferrari, and in 1974 he even finished runner-up in the world championship. A list of Swiss Formula 1 drivers: 1950-1955: Emmanuel "Toulo" de Graffenried1950-1951: Tony Branca;1951-1953: Peter Hirt1952-1952: Rudolf Schoeller1953-1953: Albert Scherre1954-1957: Ottorino Volonterio1961-1961: Michael May1962-1962: Heinz Schiller1962-1962: Heini Walter1962-1971: Jo Siffert;1962-1964: Jean-Claude Rudaz1966-1971: Silvio Moser1969-1969: Xavier Perrot1970-1980: Clay Regazzoni1975-1975: Jo Vonlanthen1976-1977: Loris Kessel1979-1986: Marc Surer1987-1987: Franco Forini1989-1990: Gregor Foitek1992-1992: Andrea Chiesa1994-1995: Jean-Denis Delétraz2009-........: Sébastien Buemi

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