F1: Alguersuari Pays Tribute As Toro Rosso Physio Dies

Formula 1

F1: Alguersuari Pays Tribute As Toro Rosso Physio Dies

Scuderia Toro Rosso physiotherapist Raniero Gianotti was felled by a heart attack...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted January 09, 2012 Balen (BEL)

Jaime Alguersuari considered Raniero Gianotti his brother. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Jaime Alguersuari has paid an emotional tribute to Scuderia Toro Rosso physio Raniero Gianotti, who has died at the age of 46.

Alguersuari said that the Italian was “the person who I have loved and who has loved me the most in Formula One.”

Gianotti, who also worked with drivers such as Rubens Barrichello and Jarno Trulli in the past, suffered a heart attack while cycling last weekend. He leaves a wife and a son.

“For me, he was more than a friend, he was a brother,” said Alguersuari. “I debuted in F1 with just 19 years old and I had never done a full lap in an F1 in any circuit. Raniero was my guide and comfort in my troubles. In these three years we have lived together in the most diverse countries in the world, in his house in Urbino and at my family’s house in Barcelona.

“He was the best professional I’ve known both in the physical preparation applied to F1 as in knowledge of the paddock. A few days ago he called to tell me, ‘Don’t worry about your future, Jaime, because you are the future.’ I will never forget him, and I can only say ‘Ever onward to victory, Raniero.’ We will continue to fight against adversity.”

Adam Cooper notched up his 27th season as a racing journalist in 2011. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter.