Carlos Reutemann’s condition had deteriorated in the last couple of days after he suffered further issues with haemorrhaging while in the intensive care unit of a health centre in the city of Santa Fe, Argentina. His daughter confirmed it, saying: “Dad left in peace and dignity after fighting like a champion with a noble and strong heart that accompanied him until the end”.
The former F1 driver and current Senator in Argentina had been hospitalised on 30 May and was moved to the ICU on 21 June, remaining there ever since.
Previously Reutemann spent 17 days in the hospital during May.
He was admitted with anaemia and dehydration, but his condition worsened due to previous issues with gastrointestinal bleeding and deteriorating kidney function. His problems were related to liver cancer he was diagnosed with in 2017.
Reutemann’s death is a major loss for Argentina as he was the most successful driver of the South American country in Formula 1 after the initial path set by the likes of Juan Manuel Fangio and Jose Froilan Gonzalez in the 1950s.
Reutemann was able to excel in F1 during a ten-year span between 1972 and 1982 in a competitive era for the series.
In terms of race wins, his final Ferrari season in 1978 was his most successful with four wins, but he fell short to the consistency of the Lotus team with Mario Andretti and the late Ronnie Peterson and was not in championship contention to the final race
Following his retirement from F1 after the first two races of the 1982 season and having also made two World Rally Championship starts with two podium finishes in Argentina (1980 and 1985), Reutemann turned his attention to politics in his country.
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