Alan Jones looks back on rejecting Ferrari offer: "The stupidest mistake of my career"
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A Homegrown Hero
The 2025 Formula 1 season will kick off in Australia at the Melbourne circuit, the hometown of the only Australian driver—alongside Jack Brabham—to have won a Formula 1 world title: Alan Jones. Crowned champion with Williams in 1980, the now 78-year-old secured a total of 12 career victories, including two in 1981.
The Title and Clashes with Reutemann
That season, Williams managed to reclaim the Constructors' Championship, thanks in part to two victories by Jones’ teammate, Carlos Reutemann. However, the relationship between the two drivers soured that year, as Jones explained in an interview with Speedweek.com:
“Winning the world championship in 1980 was truly incredible. When I had the title in my grasp, I got very emotional. While I was still wearing my helmet, there was a side of me that many didn't see. I remember standing under the shower in my hotel room and dancing: 'I'm world champion! I'm world champion!' Then I went downstairs to another hotel room, and we had the most fantastic party you can imagine. In 1981, I drove better than the year before, but we had some stability issues. After Carlos Reutemann didn't honor our contractual agreement in Brazil, I realized I could no longer trust him. The points Carlos took from me would have been enough to successfully defend my title.”
The End with Williams
The agreement with the Grove-based team stipulated that if Carlos Reutemann was leading ahead of Jones, the Argentine was supposed to yield the position to his teammate—something that did not happen at the Brazilian GP:
“Frank Williams knew we had a superior car. So he told us: 'The last thing I want is for you two to be leading the race, crash in the final laps, and let someone else win.' So I kept my distance and let him drive. With two laps to go, I started thinking: maybe this guy isn't going to honor his commitment? Then I thought, okay, he'll make a big show of it and slow down at the last corner or just before the finish line. But, of course, he didn't. From that moment on, I knew I couldn't trust him anymore.” – he pointed out.
Ferrari's Offer
Jones had the chance to switch teams in 1982 when Ferrari called him as a potential replacement for Didier Pironi, who had suffered a serious injury in Germany. In reality, Maranello had already reached out to Jones in 1978, though negotiations fell through.
The year before, Ferrari had tried to sign Mario Andretti from Lotus, hoping to boost car sales in the U.S., but 'Piedone' declined. At that point, Jones—then driving for Shadow—signed a letter of intent to race for Ferrari in 1978. However, the deal collapsed when Enzo Ferrari chose to bet on Gilles Villeneuve instead. Jones took this decision poorly, and it influenced his response in 1982:
“I was still a bit offended,” he admitted. “On the phone, I said I'd think about it, but then I never followed up. That was a mistake. When Ferrari didn't hear back from me, they hired Mario Andretti, who immediately put the car on pole at Monza! Imagine if I had been in that car—I would never have had to pay for a meal in Italy again! (laughs).
In 1977, they wanted Mario first, then couldn't get him, so they turned to me. In 1982, they wanted me, but I didn't respond, so they took Mario. It's funny how life works. I still regret not accepting Ferrari's offer. Turning it down was the stupidest thing I ever did in my career.” – Alan Jones concluded.
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