Onofre Marimón

Onofre Marimón was an Argentine racing driver and protégé of Juan Manuel Fangio who was emerging as a genuine Formula 1 star before his death during practice for the 1954 German Grand Prix.

Onofre Marimón established himself as one of the most promising talents in the 1954 Formula 1 season with Maserati, producing a remarkable third-place finish at the British Grand Prix after starting 28th and passing 22 cars on the opening lap — before his death during practice at the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring made him the first driver killed at a World Championship meeting outside of Indianapolis. Following in his father's footsteps and mentored by Fangio himself, Marimón began his career in Argentine national events before making his Formula One debut at the 1951 French Grand Prix, driving for Scuderia Milano. Marimón joined the Maserati works team in 1953, and quickly established himself as one of the sport's rising talents, taking a podium finish at that year's Belgian Grand Prix and further points-scoring drives at the German and Swiss Grands Prix. When Fangio departed for Mercedes ahead of the 1954 season, Marimón effectively became Maserati's lead driver, producing a remarkable third-place finish at the 1954 British Grand Prix at Silverstone after starting 28th on the grid and passing 22 cars on the opening lap alone, and winning the non-championship Rome Grand Prix that June. Just two weeks after his British Grand Prix heroics, on July 31, 1954, Marimón was killed during practice for the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, when his Maserati left the circuit at the Breidscheid curve and crashed at the bottom of a steep incline. He became the first driver to die at a World Championship Grand Prix meeting other than the Indianapolis 500, and his death deeply affected Fangio, who had regarded him as a protégé.

Bold, courageous driver known for spectacular overtaking and rapid improvement under Fangio's mentorship

Remembered as one of the great what-ifs of 1950s Formula 1, a driver on the cusp of stardom when his life was tragically cut short

• 2x Formula 1 podium finisher (1953 Belgian GP, 1954 British GP)
• 1954 Rome Grand Prix winner (non-championship)
• Maserati works team driver alongside Fangio